Effect of carbosulfan inhalation on mice testicular ultrastructure

Carbosulfan, a toxic chemical, is widely used for agricultural purposes and for pest control. Although ultrastructural effects of this compound on various tissues and organs have been extensively studied, nothing has been found in literature about its ultrastructural effects on testicular ultrastructure. Therefore the present study was designed to elucidate the possible effects of carbosulfan on testicular ultrastructure. 60 mice were divided into 6 groups each containing 10 animals. While the first group was considered as control, the others were inhalated with carbosulfan for 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. At the end of each daily period half of the mice were sacrificied, while the remaining others were kept for further 28 days without any inhalation. At the end of experimental procedures the blood samples of mice were collected and analysed for blood testosteron level and afterward the tissue pieces of testes were collected and processed for electron microscopy. While mean levels of testosteron has significantly lowered in inhalation group in comparison with controls, testosteron levels were found elevated, reaching almost to normal values in the group, which were kept for a further 28 days after each inhalation period. Examinations of the testicular tissue pieces, obtained after 1-3 days of inhalation, revealed no significant ultrastructural changes in the membrana propria and in the seminiferous epithelium. On the other hand, after 7-14 days of carbosulfan inhalation, the membrana propria was seen slightly thickened, electron density of myoid cells was increased, focal accumulations of collagen fibres were placed particularly above myoid cells and upper basal laminae was slightly crincled. In addition to the above mentioned findings, tubular cells exhibited mild degenerative changes; while Sertoli cells were in the form of ?foamy cells? due to the enlargements of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Some spermatogenic cells were extremely necrotic. While some areas revealed no spermatogenic cells, some other areas were occupied with the debris of destroyed spermatogenetic cells. The tissue samples obtained from the animals, which were kept further 28 days after carbosulfan inhalation, again revealed no significant ultrastructural changes. Decrease of the blood testosteron levels in the 1-28 days of inhalation groups might well indicate the structural abnormalities of testicular cells, which were evidenced ultrastructurally as mentioned before. Another finding with respect to the 1 ? 3 days carbosulfan inhalation pointed out to the fact that there were no signs of degenerative changes in the components of the seminiferous tubules, meaning the componend cells still remained their normal structures. Furthermore, the examination of tissue pieces of testes obtained from the mice kept a further 28 days after carbosulfan inhalation disclosed usual ultrastructural appearance. This, with addition of blood testosteron level elevation in this group, imply the regressive capability of the remaining cells after cessation of intoxication. Finally, thickening of the membrana propria with collagen fibres accumulation will, indeed, interfere the passage of metabolites and hormones from interstitium to the tubular contents. Additionally, while membrana propria was thickened, one other its component, basal laminae became crincled leading to the increasement of its surface area; this phenomenon would well compensate the restriction of metabolite and hormonal acces towards the tubular contents.