Effect of acrylamide toxicity on male reproductive system of Wistar rats

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of acrylamide toxicity on male reproductive system and its correlation with histological changes in testes of rats. Twenty four adult male Wistar rats were divided in four equal groups and received 0, 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg b.w. acrylamide daily as oral gavage for 28 days. It was observed that acrylamide reduced the testes weights in intoxicated rats. There was dose dependent decrease in total sperm count and increase in dead sperm count of rats from toxicated groups. Histopathological changes in testes of acrylamide treated animals included destruction of seminiferous tubules with detachment of spermatogonial cells observed at periphery of seminiferous tubules. Atrophy of seminiferous tubules was a constant finding. Some sections of testes of rats in high dose groups showed vacuolar degenerative changes in germinal epithelium. It was concluded that pathological alterations in testes were responsible for reduced spermatogenesis in rats.