Histological and ultrastructural evaluation of the effect of dimethoate on the testicular tissue in albino rats

ABSTRACT

The present work was carried out on 20 adult male albino rats, their body weight ranged from 220 to 270 g, to shed light on the histological and ultrastructural changes that might occur in the testis after oral administration of dimethoate for 2 months compared with 5 normal control animals. Fresh testicular specimens were taken and subjected to histological and ultrastructural studies. Light microscopic examination revealed shrinkage of some tubules with widening of the interstitial spaces. Spermatogonia were the least cells to be affected. Primary spermatocytes showed variable degree of degenerative changes. Ultrastructurally their cytoplasm revealed dilated endoplasmic reticulum and degenerated mitochondria. Spermatids showed the highest degree of affection. Ultrastructurally, they showed irregular nuclei and kariolysis of the chromatin. The cytoplasm showed myclin like figures. Sertoli cells and interstitial cells of Leydig revealed degenerated mitochondria and dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum