EFFECT OF STRESS ON HISTOPATHOLOGY OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM IN RATS

Description

Background: Although relatively little is known about factors affecting fertility. Latest literature suggests that environmental and lifestyle factors play an important role. Recently, oxidative stress has become the focus of interest as potential cause of male infertility. Oxidative stress may play a role in a number of conditions known to be detrimental to male fertility Method: Adult male albino rats weighing 200 - 220 g and aged 12-15 weeks male rats were selected for the study. The rats were randomly analyzed into 3 groups Group 1: Control rat, Group 2: Swimming stress without treatment, Group 3: Treated with vitamin C 30mg/kg/day doses. All rats were subjected to swimming stress daily between 9.00 AM to 10.00 AM until 50 days. Drugs were administered orally for 50 days half an hour before subjecting to stress. At end of the study the reproductive organs testes, seminal vesicles, Vas deferens and prostate were dissected and the samples were used for the histo-pathological evaluation. Result: In stress group section of testis shows seminiferous tubules showed focial poor spermatogenesis with reduction in number of sperm containing seminiferous tubules and absence of spermatozoa was clearly recognized in some seminiferous tubules. Treatment with antioxidant showed recovery but still some of the seminiferous tubules showed decreased spermatozoa. Stress changes in seminal vesicle: the hyperplasia of epithelial lining, histological features of mucosa severely affected and reduced number of gland. Stress induced changes in vas deferens: produced desquamated ling epithelium with atrophic changes and mild exploited epithelium, degenerated basement membrane of vas deferens. Stress induced changes in prostate: Prostatic acini with many papillary folds, desquamated epithelial cells, epithelial proliferation was seen. Conclusion: Oxidative stress produced deleterious effects on male reproductive system and supplementation of antioxidants such as vitamin C have been shown to be protecting effect against the histological changes produced by the oxidative stress on male reproductive system in rats.KEYWORDS:  Stress; Male reproductive organs; Histopathology; Rats