Ultrastructural Alterations Induced by Two Different Antispermatogenic Agents in the Seminiferous Epithelium of Rat Testes

Abstract

The effects of 20–438, an indenopyridine derivative, and pipecolino methyl hydroxyindane (PMHI) on the seminiferous epithelium in rats is described ultrastructurally. After PMHI administration the first alterations were seen in the Sertoli cells, which showed slight cytoplasmic vacuolization after 10 h. This effect was more pronounced after 24 and 48 h. Simultaneously, a progressive condensation could be observed in some Sertoli cells. As to the germ cells, the first degenerative effects, chromatin margination in the nucleus, were seen in spermatids after 48 h. Spermatocytes and spermatogonia remained unaffected. In general, the normal contacts between germ cells and Sertoli cells were partly disrupted after 48 h, and the arrangement of the consecutive germ cell layers in the tubules was considerably altered.

The changes in the Sertoli cells after treatment with 20–438 were similar to, but less conspicuous than, the changes after treatment with PMHI. The ultra-structural alterations in the germ cells, however, were much more pronounced. The first spermatids showing clear chromatin margination in the nucleus were seen after 10 h, followed by necrosis of the total cell. After 24 h the spermatocytes were also affected, and after 48 h the first multinucleated cells could be seen. The germ cell arrangement in the seminiferous epithelium also showed greater alterations.

Both compounds caused ultrastructural alterations in the Sertoli cells and germ cells. Although the effects on the Sertoli cells are greater after treatment with PMHI, 20–438 has a more pronounced effect on the germ cells and also effects, in addition to vacuolization, mitochondrial swelling in the Sertoli cells.

The results suggest an important role of the Sertoli cells in control of spermiogenesis.