Diazinon and cadmium acute testicular toxicity in rats examined by histopathological and morphometrical methodss

Abstract

Morphometrical and histopathological analysis were used to evaluate quantitative changes in the testicular seminiferous tubule morphology in mature rats (n = 40) after an intraperitoneal administration of cadmium at single dose of 2 mg/kg body weigh, diazinon at single dose of 20 mg/kg body weigh, and cadmium-diazinon coexposure. 36 hours after an experimental administration, the testes from all treated animals showed disorganization of tubular elements, with increased intercellular space, disruption of blood-testis barrier resulting in oedema, ischaemia and seminiferous tissue necrosis. A significant decrease in relative volume of seminiferous epithelium and tubule lumen (P<0.05), significant increase of intraepithelial spaces in epithelium (P<0.05), significant widening of the interstitial tissue (P<0.05) in all experimental groups and significant dilatation of blood vessels in cadmium- treated animals (P<0.05) confirmed the histological data. In rats, administration of cadmium caused necrosis of the testes due to vascular collapse. Diazinon administration and cadmium-diazinon coexposure led to different degrees of degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules. Cadmium and diazinon act as testicular toxicants disrupting male reproduction and their exposure may pose the risk of fertility disorders in animals and men. Results did not indicate synergistic or additional effect of simultaneous administration of cadmium and diazinon to the rat testis. Further experimental research is needed for detailed knowledge on reproductive toxicity of cadmium and diazinon interaction, particularly their long-term exposure.