Article

Evaluation of testicular toxicity and sperm morphology in rats treated with methyl methanesulphonate (MMS).

Toxicology Research Laboratories, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nagano, Japan.
Journal of Reproduction and Development (impact factor: 1.46). 11/2005; 51(5):657-67.
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Methyl methanesulphonate (MMS), a potent alkylating agent and testicular toxicant, was orally administered to rats for 5 days at 40 mg/kg. During the recovery period of up to 5 weeks, males were evaluated for testicular toxicity and sperm morphology. The 5-week recovery period were designated as follows: Day 1 (the day after final treatment); Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 and Week 5 (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks after final treatment). Morphologically abnormal sperm increased beginning in Week 3, peaked in Week 4 and declined slightly in Week 5. Histopathological examinations indicated retention of step 19 spermatids at stage IX from Day 1 through Week 3. Quantitative evaluation of spermatogenic cells indicated a decrease in the number of late pachytene spermatocytes and early spermatids on Day 1. TUNEL examination showed a significantly high frequency of apoptosis in the meiosis cells in Week 1. In the present study, genetic damage induced by treatment with MMS affected spermatogenesis and a wide variety of spermatogenic cells in the testis. Apoptosis in the course of meiosis seemed to be involved in the elimination process of genetically insulted germ cells, and this process seems to play an important role in eliminating and/or decreasing the germ cells with retention of spermatids and the potential to express morphologically abnormal spermatozoa.

0 0
 · 
0 Bookmarks
 · 
44 Views
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Full-text

View
0 Downloads
Available from

Keywords

5 days
 
5 weeks
 
5-week recovery period
 
Day 1
 
Day 1. TUNEL examination
 
elimination process
 
final treatment
 
germ cells
 
meiosis cells
 
Methyl methanesulphonate
 
Morphologically abnormal sperm
 
morphologically abnormal spermatozoa
 
recovery period
 
spermatogenic cells
 
step 19 spermatids
 
testicular toxicant
 
Week 1
 
Week 3. Quantitative evaluation
 
Week 5
 
Week 5. Histopathological examinations
 

Kazuya Kuriyama