Veterinary Archives, Vol. 80 No. 1, 2010.
Original scientific paper
Testicular morphology and epididymal sperm reserves of male rats following the withdrawal of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil
Udensi M. Igwebuike
; Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Reginald I. Obidike
; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Njoku U. Njoku
; Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Shodeinde V. O. Shoyinka
; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Abstract
The reversibility of crude oil-induced male reproductive abnormalities was studied in fifi fty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats. Exposure to crude oil was achieved by oral administration of increasing doses (165mg/kg body mass, 330mg/kg body mass, and 660mg/kg body mass) of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil to male rats every 48 hours for 4 weeks. Thereafter, the crude oil was withdrawn from some of the rats for a period of 8 weeks. The results showed signififi cant reduction in the cauda epididymal sperm reserves of the rats that received the crude oil (P<0.05) and the rats from which the crude oil was withdrawn (P<0.05), relative to the control group. The testes of the rats that received crude oil showed reduced spermatogenic activity in the seminiferous tubules, as well as hyperaemia and oedema of the interstices. The testes of the rats from which crude oil was withdrawn showed evidence of recovery and the restoration of active spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules. The indication is that the withdrawal of Nigerian Qua Iboe Brent crude oil from male rats over a period of 8 weeks reversed the testicular pathology, but not the cauda epididymal oligospermia associated with this environmental pollutant.
Keywords
crude oil; oestrogen-mimicking chemicals; cauda epididymal sperm reserve; testes; rats
Hrčak ID:
56048
URI
Publication date:
8.3.2010.
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