Evaluation of Sulfur Mustard Effect on the Spermatogenesis Process of Mature Male Rats

Purpose: The evaluation of sulphur mustard effect on the spermatogenesis process of mature male spraguedawley rats. Material and Methods: This research was carried out on 30 mature male albino rats, weighing about 200-300 gr. Animals were divided into four groups such as control, sham and experimental groups 1&2. Experimental groups 1 & 2 received a single injection of sulphur mustard dissolved in thyrod’s buffer interaperitoneally with doses of 5 mg/Kg and 10 mg/Kg, respectively. Sham group contaminated with only thyrod’s buffer and control group received nothing. After 10 days, the rats were dissected under general anaesthesia. Then the concentration of testosterone and estradiol were determined in blood aspirated from the heart of the rats. Also semen samples were collected from 1 cm of the left vas deference and sperm count was done. Finally, the general cells in tubules of the left testicular tissues were assessed according to the Johnsen Score methods. Results: Following contamination with sulphur mustard, the rats showed dose related effects such as decrease of testosterone hormone, increase of estradiol hormone, decrease of sperm cells, decrease cells in tubular left tissue and decrease of the testicular weight. Conclusion: Considering the above results, it can be concluded that the sulphur mustard causes disfunction of spermatogenesis in mature male albino rats.