Effects of potassium bromate on male rat growth and testicular histology

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of supplementation of potassium bromate (KBrO3) to drinking water on the growth rate, pubertal weight, testis & epididymal weights and testicular histology of growing male rats. MethodsThirty male Wizard rat [age = 21 d, mean BW = (40.0 ± 5.3) g] were used. The rats were grouped into 5 treatment groups each group consist of 6 rats. T1 was offered drinking water supplemented with 100 mg, T2 200 mg, T3 300 mg, T4 400 mg/L KBrO3 for the duration of the experiment, while the control group was offered KBrO3 free water. The BW weights were taken weekly. Eight weeks after treatment the rats were sacrificed, testes & epididymae were excised and weighted. The testes were fixed and histopathological sections of 5–6 μm were made, stained with H & E and examined under light microscope. ResultsThe results showed that the growth rate, pubertal weight, testes & epididymal weights and testicular histology of growing male rats were significantly (P < 0.001) affected with KBrO3 supplementation to drinking water. The growth rate of the control group and T1 (100 mg/L KBrO3) fit well a sigmoid pattern growth curve and no differences in their growth rates were recorded, while the sigmoid pattern of the growth curves of treatment T2, T3 and T4 was disrupted. No difference (P > 0.05) in BW between the control and T1 was recorded. However, it is clear that T2, T3 and T4 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the BW at puberty. Furthermore treatment groups recorded significantly (P < 0.001) low testicular and epididymal weights compared to the control. Supplementation of KBrO3 to drinking water caused serious changes in testicular tissue of the rats. The treatment rats' testes had distorted or even collapsed seminiferous tubules and narrow interstitial spaces. Upon magnification the seminiferous tubules appeared very narrow, mostly devoid of spermatogenesis and with no sperms. ConclusionExposure of prepubertal rats to KBrO3 retards their growth, causes testicular hypoplasia and impairs spermatogenesis, which is a predictor of infertility or even sterility in the future.