ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF TESTICULAR TOXICITY

Effects of CDDP on the Rat Seminiferous Tubules

Abstract

Adult male rats of Wistar strain received an intra-abdominal administration of Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP). The experimental aminals were devided into two groups; one was the high dose & short duration group (trio dose group) which received CDDP 2.8μg/gBW/day for three serial days, and the other was the low dose & long duration group (multi dose group) which received CDDP 0.8μg/gBW twice a week for one through eight weeks. The testicular tissue was observed by the electron microscope (TEM) freeze fracture method. The first changes in spermatogonia were, in both groups, the nuclear deformity and swelling of mitochondria. In a later stage, nuclear destruction, and mitochondrial myelinization and/or disarranged cristae were noted. The degree of these changes was more prominent in the multi dose group than in the trio dose group after equal amount of CDDP. In Sertoli cells, cytoplasmic vacuolation, swelling and/or myelinization of mitochondria were observed in both groups. However, the nuclei were not changed. The characteristic junctional configuration formed between neighbouring Sertoli cells and particles of cell membrane showed no significant changes in findings by the freeze fracture method. Thus the results in these experiments suggest that CDDP causing lethal damage to spermatogonia impairs local Sertoli cells. It is possible that the influence on the energy producing capacity of mitochondria in Sertoli cells retards the recovery of injured spermatogonia.