Histological changes of acrylamide-induced testicular lesions in mice

Abstract

The effects of a single oral dose of 150 or 100 mg/kg acrylamide on the testis were studied histopathologically in prepubertal and adult mice over a period of 10 days following treatment. In the prepubertal mice, severe testicular damage such as vacuolation and swelling of the round spermatids, necrosis of the late elongated spermatids in stages I to VIII, abnormal meiosis in stage XIX, and a marked cellular exfoliation into the lumen were detected 1 day after administration of the 150 mg/kg dose. On Day 2, the damage was more pronounced. However, the testicular damage was repaired 7 to 10 days after treatment. In the adults, many tubules from stages I to VIII were affected, showing nuclear vacuolation in most of the round spermatids 1 day after administration of the 150 mg/kg dose. Meiosis in stage XIV was normal. In the prepubertal mice, nuclei of the round spermatids in stage I–III, especially step 1 spermatids had degenerated 1 day after adminstration of the 100 mg/kg dose. In the adults, the round spermatids had degenerated in stages I–II and IV–VIII 1 day after administration of the 100 mg/kg dose. These results suggested that the most vulnerable cell type among the spermatogenic cells was the round spermatid, especially that in the Golgi phase (stage I–III). Other stages and spermatogenic cells were relatively resistant to acrylamide testicular toxicity.