Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the toxic effects of prenatal flutamide exposure on testicular structure and
ultrastructure of pubertal rats. Materials and Methods: 40 newly born male albino rats were divided into: Control
group: included 10 offspring whose mothers were injected subcutaneously by vehicle only from the 101h gestational
day until birth and Study group: included 20 offspring whose mothers were injected by flutamide in a dose of 5 mg
/day dissolved in vehicle from the 10th gestational day until birth. Whai rats reached the adult age, they were
sacrificed and both testicles were removed and prepared for light microscopic (LM) and electron microscopic (EM)
examination. Results: LM examination of treated animals' specimens showed seminiferous tubules containing few
numbers of germ cells, spennatogOnia and spermatocvtes with degenerated material in the cavity, but contains no
sperms. Part of the seminiferous tubule contained edematous fluid in between the germ cells and the lumen of the
tubule contains debris of degenerated cells. EM examination showed little number of degenerated primary
spermatocytes and Sertoli cells with multiple vacuoles in their cytoplasm, but no sperms were detected in lumen.
Higher magnifications showed degenerated Satoh cells with multiple vacuoles in its cytoplasm and degenerated
spermatogonia. In other parts of the seminiferous tubules. Satoh cells appeared deeply infolded (lobulated nucleus)
with vacuolated cytoplasm_ Degenerated spermatogonia with rounded nuclei and patches of heterochromatin
appeared resting on irregular basal lamina_ Degenerated spermatocytes with shrunken nuclei were also seen. Basal
lamina was distorted with collagen deposits. Sertoh cells cytoplasm contained scanty mitochondria with loss of its
cristae. Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to tlutamide has deleterious effect on adult testicular function as regards
sperrnatogenesis with proved ultrastructural changes and pregnant females should be instructed to avoid exposure to
flutamide either as occupational exposure or as therapeutic use.
fAbilel Wanes Alawdan; Sadeia Shalaby; Essam Mehlab; Omar Abdul Aziz and Ali M_ Ali Flutamide Induces
Xenoestrogenic Environment in Rat testes: Light and ElectromicroscopieEvaluation. Journal of American
Science 2011; 7(10): 454-4621 (ISSN: 1545-1003). |
