Effects of supplementation with impuberal or adult testicular protein extracts on genital tract and testicular histology as well as hormonal levels in adult busulfan treated rats.

Abstract

24 adult Wistar rats received one SC injection of busulfan (10 mg/kg BW) on day 0. They were injected daily from day 1 to day 10 either with BSA (1 and 2 mg/rat, n = 5 respectively), with acetonic extract of adult ram testicular cytosol (2 mg/rat, n = 10) or with acetonic extract of impuberal calf testicular cytosol (2 mg/rat, n = 4). 10 animals served as control. Animals were killed on day 17. Busulfan treatment induced decrease of total volumes of intertubular tissue and of Leydig cells per testis, of accessory glands, and of germ cells from type A spermatogonia to zygotene spermatocytes. Supplementation with adult testicular extract did not modify accessory glands but increased Leydig cell total volume, individual cellular and nuclear areas and Sertoli cell nuclear areas. It decreased further the germ cells from A spermatogonia to zygotene primary spermatocytes. Supplementation with impuberal testicular extract did not modify accessory glands, Leydig cell total volume, individual cellular and nuclear areas or Sertoli cell nuclear area. It increased the germ cells from A spermatogonia to zygotene primary spermatocytes to values intermediate between those of control and busulfan treated rats.