Effects of testosterone and vitamin E on spermatogenesis

ABSTRACT

Forty eight adult male rabbits were utilized for this experiment and randomly divided into four groups. Animals in groups A, B and C were given testosterone, vitamin E and both respectively s/c daily. Animals in group D were treated as controls. Four animals in each group were sacrificed at one monthly intervals, for three months. Testes were removed and studied for various parameters of gross and histological appearances. Testes of testosterone treated animals were obsen,ed to be atrophic. The tubular diameter was decreased. Spermatogenesis was sequentially halted and the basement membrane was thickened and hyalinised. Testes of vitamin E treated animals were hypertrophied and uniformity of tubular diameter was observed. Spermatogenesis was potentiated but the basement membrane was unchanged. Testes of rabbits treated with both testosterone and vitamin E were again atrophic. Histological section revealed decrease in tubular diameter, arrest in spermatogenesis and thickening and hyalinisation of basement membrane. Thus the use of testosterone alone or in combination with vitamin E is hazardous to spermatogenesis. Although there is a potentiation of spemmatogenesis with vitamin E in rabbits, but the implications in human beings need furherer study