Investigation of effects methamidophos on rat testicular tissue by electron microscope

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigation the effects of Methamidophos on rat testicular tissue by electron microscope and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with methamidophos.Materials and Methods: The fifty rats were randomized into 3 groups as Group 1 (Study Group), Group 2 (Control Group) and Group 3 (Treatment Group). Metamidophos ((LD50)=30mg/kg) was administered to the rats and observed until cholinergic symptoms occurred in Group 1. Isotonic sodium chloride was administered to the mice as the same amount of Metamidophos in Group 2. Metamidophos ((LD50)=30mg/kg) was administered to the mice and observed until cholinergic symptoms occurred and then treatment was carried out in Group 3. At the end of the study all testis were dissected and testis tissues were investigated by electron microscope.Results: Increased total thickness in membrana propria and increased electron density in Sertoli cells, foamy appearance due to the vacuolation of agranular endoplasmic reticulum, dense mitochondrions, increased lipid droplets, as well as cytoplasmic lysis especially in tubules were observed in rats included Methamidophos treatment. Arrest in spermatogenic cells, immature shedding to lumen and apoptotic changes were also observed. Minimal changes were observed in some tubules in the Treatment Group, also membrana propria, Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells were found in most of the tubules as similar changes in Study Group and there was not a remarkable structural improvement. Normal testicular structure was observed in the Control Group.Conclusion: In this study, it was found that acute exposure of methamidophos cause significant degenerative changes in ultra-structural components of testis and concluded that cellular degenerations were not irreversible in acute phase by antidote therapy.Keywords: Methamidophos, organophosphate, testicular tissue, ultrastructure