The Effect of Maternal Exposure to Acesulfame Potassium (Acesulfame-K) on the Development of the Male Gonad in Adult Rats

Abstract

Background: Acesulfame potassium is a low calorie sweetener. Considering its growing rate of consumption, investigation of its potential impacts on health is necessary. In the current study, the effect of intraperitoneal injection of this substance was investigated during pregnancy and after breast-feeding on the spermatogenesis of adult male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, acesulfame potassium (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally into pregnant (Wistar) rats and then into the male infants after breast-feeding until maturity. After anaesthesia and blood sampling from the adult males, the serum levels of testosterone, FSH and LH were measured using the ELISA method. Subsequently, some of the rats were anatomized from each group, and histological sections were prepared from their testicles using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The histological sections were examined in terms of morphology and spermatogonium, spermatocyte and spermatid cell counts by optical microscopy. Also, the weight changes in the mothers and infants were examined during the trial period. The data were analysed by the ANOVA method. Results: The average weight of the infants treated at dosages of 50 and 200 mg/kg body weight increased significantly compared to that of the other groups. No significant difference was observed in the weight ratio of testes to the body and LH value in any of the groups. While the FSH value showed significant reduction in the infants receiving dosages of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (P < 0.01), testosterone at dosages of 50, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight increased significantly (P < 0.001). Histological studies did not show significant disruption in the spermatogenesis process and the average number of cells counted. Conclusion: It seems that consumption of acesulfame potassium during pregnancy and infancy probably does not have a negative impact on testicular development and spermatogenesis after puberty.