No abstract

The present study investigated the gonads alterations of mature female Oreochromis niloticus caused by different concentrations (0, 40, 60, 100 μg/L) of 4-nonylphenol (NP) and also its effect on steroidogenesis. A tendency for a dose-dependent reduction in the gonadosomatic index, fecundity and oocytes diameter in the NP-exposed groups was observed. Histological examination revealed that NP impairs gonadal growth clearly shown in the oocyte development and differentiation. Also, the estrogenic activity of such NP was identified through 11-ketotestosterone, 17b-estradiol and vitellogenin which were affected significantly by the applied concentrations. The study indicates that NP has estrogenic potency-induced marked alteration in the sexual development including gonadal maturation, spawning time and egg production.

A clinical investigative study of 148 male leprous patients demonstrated the presence of testicular lesions in 35 cases. Semen analysis revealed marked oligo-athenozoospermia in 10 cases and azoospermia in 25 cases. Testicular biopsies from leprous testes showed different histologic patterns ranging from spermatogenic arrest to complete hyalinization of both seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue. Histochemical staining for neurovascular supply revealed degenerative nerve change in addition to altered permeability of the testicular capillaries. There was good correlation between the results of semen analyses and histological and histochemical examination of testicular biopsies.

The present study investigates the effects of different doses (0, 40, 60, 100 μg/L) of 4-nonylphenol (NP) on testis histology and sperms motility of mature Oreochromis niloticus. A tendency for a dose-dependent reduction in the gonado-somatic index (GSI) in the NP-exposed groups was observed. Histological examination revealed that high doses of NP (60 and 100 μg/L) cause hyperplasia of interlobular connective tissue components coincide with decrease in the size of seminiferous lobules and amount of lumen spermatozoa in comparison with the control and low-dose (40 μg/L)-exposed groups. In addition, within the seminiferous lobules, rupture of spermatogenic cysts, vacuolation and necrosis of primary spermatocytes due to damage of sertoli cells were clearly observed and lead to decrease in advanced spermatogenic cells. The highest dose caused significant decrease in the GSI associated with appearance of testis-ova (intersex) state. The percentage of abnormal sperms increased with increasing the dose of NP reaching to 96 % for those subjected to 100 μg NP/L, while it was only 11 % for the control group specimens. The study indicates that NP has estrogenic potency induced marked alteration in the sexual development including inhibition in testicular growth and deformation in the sperms.

Acrosin activity, acrosome reaction and nuclear chromatin condensation were studied in 24 infertile patients with varicoceles and 26 fertile men with or without varicocele. Chromatin condensation, assessed by aniline blue staining, and acrosin activity, evaluated by gelatinolysis technique, were significantly affected in the group of infertile patients. Defective chromatin condensation and defective acrosin activity were detected in 67% and 50% of the infertile patients, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the acrosome reaction, which was assessed by the triple staining technique after exposure of spermatozoa to low temperature (4 degrees C). This study identified a subgroup of infertile patients with normal standard semen parameters but impaired sperm functions. Results of the sperm function tests and standard semen parameters were not correlated. Therefore, it is concluded from this study that important sperm functions are impaired in patients with varicocele and that the gelatinolysis technique and aniline blue staining are effective tools for assessment of the fertilization potential of varicocele patients.