Electron microscopic changes in spermatozoa of albino rats, induced by dithiothreitol [DDT], a protective reagent for - SH group

ABSTRACT

Disulfide bonds formation plays an important role in many chemical reactions. The maturity of the heads and tails of spermatozoa are highly dependent on such bonds. Prevention of these chemical bonds would certainly affect such maturity. This has been achieved through the administration of dithiothreitol [DTT], a chemical compound which prevents the formation of such chemical bonds by maintaining the - SH group of the amino acid cysteine. Thirty adult male rats were employed, divided to 10 control received saline and Tris buffer and 20 experimental groups received 0.2 ml of 9 mM solution of dithiothreitol in 0.05 M Tris buffer, pH 8,0 injected subcutaneously daily for thirty days. All animals were killed after 30 days except ten experimental animals that retained for 15 more days to recover. The testes were dissected out and processed for preliminary examination with light microscopy and for electron microscopy. Due to the limited magnification of the light microscope, no major changes were visible. The electron microscope did show variable changes, specifically there have been many deformities in the nuclei, and disruption of the normal configuration and arrangement of the miotchondria; decondensation of the nuclear chromatin in some samples has also been detected. This would emphasize that DTT when maintained the - SH group from being oxidized, had interfered with the integrity of the spermatozoa, which consequently affected their maturity. Depending upon this result, one could speculate that compound of this nature and this mode of action could be considered when a male antifertility agent, is thought of