Testicular histomorphometry and endocrine alterations at puberty in offsprings from mercury treated rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different doses of mercury on fetal testis. In this investigation 20 adult female rats were divided in four groups. All animals became pregnant by natural mating. Mercuric oxide was induced in three groups by different doses (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/Kg/day) at 10 terminal days of pregnancy. After parturition, male offspring were reared for 60 days. At the end of the experiment (60 days after birth), the body weights of neonates were measured (after birth and also 60 days after birth) and the testes were isolated from the offspring of all rats, also the blood serum was isolated and used for endocrine analysis. Various histological parameters were determined using histological techniques. These parameters were included the thickness of testicular capsule (μm), the number of seminiferous tubules (/mm), the number of Sertoli, leydig and spermatogonia cells (/mm), and the seminiferous tubules’ diameter (μm). Results revealed decreases in the LH, FSH and testosterone hormones, and body weight in the experimental groups. The diameters of the seminiferous tubules, and the numbers of the spermatogonia, sertoli cells and leydig cells have decreased significantly in experimental group by 2 mg/Kg/day dose. Mercury exposure exhibited deleterious effects on male gonads during fetal life by alterations in the hormones and testicular cell numbers and this disorder remains persistent during the post-neonatal period.