TOXIC EFFECTS OF LEAD ON THE GERMINAL EPITHELIUM IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the toxic effects o f lead on the germinal epithelium o f testes o f albino rat.Study Design: Experimental study.Place and Duration of Study: Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre,Karachi, from August 2003 to December 2005.Methods: Forty adult Albino rats selected for the study were divided into two groups; group A, receivedinjection normal saline 1 ml intraperitoneally daily for eight weeks. Group B received lead chloride in adose o f1 0 mg / kg body weight intraperitoneally daily. The testes were removed and fixed in Bouin’s fluidfor 24 hours. They were dehydrated in ascending strength o f alcohol and the paraffin blocks were made.Four jum thick tissue sections were obtained, stained with PAS Iron Hematoxylin method and the morphometricstudy was done. Student's T-test was used for statistical analysis.Results: Student’s T test was used to determinate significance; P value = 0.05 was taken significant. Mean±SEM diameter o f seminiferous tubules was 291.92±1.11706 mm and 198.54 ±1.67282 mm in groups Aand B respectively after eight week o f treatment. Mean diameter o f seminiferous tubule o f group B wasdecreased significantly (P< 0.0001) as compared to groups A. Mean ±SEM thickness of germinal epitheliumwas 96.19± 1.01215 mm and 50.69±1.20064 mm in groups A and B respectively after eight week o f treatment.Mean thickness o f germinal epithelium o f seminiferous tubules o f group B was decrease significantly (P<0.0001) as compare to group A.Conclusion: Heavy metal lead present in environment had direct toxic effects on male germinal epitheliumand produced damaged on male germinal epithelium.