Abstract
Objectives: To elucidates the structural and ultrastructural testicular effects of chronic
heavy consumption of methylxanthine beverages on normally growing adult rats.
Materials & Methods: The present study comprised 40 male albino rats with weight
range of 250-300 grams divided into 4 equal groups: Group I (Control group) received
no beverages and Groups II, III and IV which received the calculated dose of caffeine,
cocoa and theophylline, respectively. The dose was arbitrarily calculated by calculation
of the mean amount consumed by 100 individuals of varying age groups and was found
to be about 5 mg/kg body weight/day as a mean dose for the three powders and to
determine the effect of heavy consumption the dose was given multiplied by 3 so each
animal received 15 mg/kg/day. All animal were .sacrificed at 6 months after start of
experiment, the testes were dissected immediately and testicular tissues were obtained
for light and Electron microscopic examinations.
Results: Chronic heavy administration of studied beverages induced histological
testicular changes on comparison to control specimens; however histological changes
varied from irregularity and thickness of the tubular limiting membrane (LM) and
widening of intracellular spaces (IC) with caffeine to loss of regular pattern of cellular
arrangement in semineferous tubules (SNT) with loss of the spermatogenic line and
dispersed cells in the tubules with cocoa. Theophylline induces more changes manifested
as showing SNT with cell debris and many vacuoles of different sizes and shapes, few
Sertoli cells were seen nearby the irregularly thickened and corrugated tubular LM and
thickened dilated blood vessels (BV) and darkly stained Leydig cells were evident.
Electromicroscopic examination confirmed these data showing immature spermatids,
vacuoles, dense bodies and dilated acrosomoic cap) and mitochondria are arranged close
to the cell membrane with caffeine. Cocoa received group showed vacuoles inside and
between cells, and ruptured mitochondria, lipid droplets and dense bodies were
observed in Sertoli cells with thickened LM and separation of its component. Moreover,
thick wall BY with increased collagen fibrils were observed between SNT and the nuclei
of Leydig cells were indented. With theophylline, sections showed irregularity of the
plasma membrane, the tubular LM is highly corrugated and thickened with increased
density of collagen fibrils, moreover, certain parts of SNT showed some cells nearly
devoid of their components apart from some organelles and Leydig cells seen between
SNT showing darkness and indentation of the nuclens.
Conclusion: Chronic heavy consumption of Methylxanthine beverages induced
significant structural changes in adult rat testes with varied extent being minimal with
caffeine and more intensified with theophylline. |
