Effect of prolonged period of starvation on the structure of the testis of albino rat

ABSTRACT

The adult male albino rats with an average weight of 300 gm were subjected to complete food removal for 7, 11 and 15 days. The testes were then examined histologically and histochemically. The first effect of starvation on the testes was progressive shrinkage of the seminiferous tubule. However, each stage in the maturation process was still evident, especially after 7 days of starvation. After 11, 15 days of starvation there was increased destruction of the luminal cells and the tubular sizes were diminished. These changes were accompanied with progressive thickening of both basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules and the testicular capsule. Additionally there was a marked fibrosis of the interstitial connective tissue. The interstitial Leydig cells were gradually shrank and became masked by the fibrosis