Histomorphometric evaluation of the testicular parenchyma of rats submittedto protein restriction during intrauterine and postnatal life

Abstract

The critical period of development is highly susceptible to disorders. Environmental contaminants, stress, and poor nutrition may permanently affect structurally and functionally an organism during adulthood. Protein restriction in intrauterine and neonatal periods may impair testicular cells and reduce steroidogenic activity. The current study investigated the effect of low protein diet during intrauterine and postnatal life on testicular function in immature and adult rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed either a normal protein diet or a low protein diet during pregnancy until birth and during lactation until weaning. The results showed that undernutrition during intrauterine life reduced epithelium height, tubular volume, Leydig cell volume, and serum testosterone levels, although it increased the support capacity of Sertoli cells. Tubular diameter, tubular volume, epithelium height, and Leydig cell population decreased when protein was restricted during lactation. Pregnant rats submitted to a low protein diet during the two periods generated male rats with a reduction in seminiferous tubule volume and length, Sertoli cell population, Leydig cell population and volume, and sperm production. Undernutrition during both the intrauterine and postnatal periods caused the most drastic testicular effects, as irreversible damage to Sertoli cell population and, consequently, to sperm production in the adult male.

Histomorphometric and oxidative evaluation of the offspring's testis from type 2 diabetic female rats treated with metformin and pentoxifylline

“…Testicular weight is used as an initial evaluator of risks to the male reproductive system, and it is directly related to reproductive efficiency. However, a lack of alterations in testicular weight and its isolated evaluation may mask histological and functional disturbances 12,64 …”

“…The gonadosomatic index (GSI = [testicular wet weight/body weight] × 100) was calculated by using body and testicular gross weights on the day of euthanasia 12 . Testicular wet weight was obtained by subtracting 6.5%, relative to the albuginea, from the testicular gross weight 42 …”

“…Five round or nearly round cross sections of seminiferous tubules in stage VII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, per animal, were randomly chosen and had their germ cells (spermatogonia, preleptotene/leptotene primary spermatocytes, pachytene primary spermatocytes and round spermatids) and Sertoli cells counted. Only Sertoli cells with clearly seen nucleoli were counted 12 . All cell numbers were corrected for nuclear diameter (germ cells) or nucleoli diameter (Sertoli cells), and thickness of the histological section, according to Abercrombie and Amann and Almquist 45,46 :Daily sperm production (DSP) per testis and gram of testis were calculated according to Rocha et al and Oliveira et al 12,44 :where NSC = the total number of Sertoli cells per testis, RSC = round spermatids counted in stage VII, RFS VII = relative frequency of stage VII, stage VII duration (days).…”

“…Cytoplasmic and nuclear volumes were then calculated (cytoplasmic volume = % cytoplasm × nuclear volume/% nucleus; cellular volume = nuclear volume + cytoplasmic volume). The Leydig cell population per testis and gram of testis were calculated by using the volume of one Leydig cell and the total volume of Leydig cells in the testis 12,47 …”

“…8,9 Embryonic or foetal exposure to eating disorders, environmental contaminants, hormonal imbalance and stress may adapt the physiological development in order to maximize immediate survival chances. [10][11][12] However, these changes may result in morphological and functional impairments only expressed during adulthood, a process called 'foetal programming' or 'metabolic memory'. 13 The male reproductive system is highly susceptible to foetal programming.…”