Effects of aspirin and prostaglandin E₂ on the rat testis: a histological, histochemical and ultrastructural study

Abstract

Evidence of morphophysiologic effects of aspirin and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) administration on the adult rat testis were revealed in these experiments. Groups of sexually mature inbred rats of the same ages and of different ages were used in the investigations and an attempt was made to correlate the morphophysiological changes with level of male fertility. Fertility tests were conducted and testicular tissues were collected and utilized for histologic, histometric, histochemical and ultrastructural studies. Treatment of adult male rats with aspirin, an inhibitor of PG synthesis, caused a significant increase in fertility. The size of the seminal vesicles regressed and seminal fluid became scanty and thicker in consistency. PGE₂ treatment did not effect the seminal vesicles. Neither aspirin nor PGE₂ effected the other accessory sex glands. The present observations, together with the known effects of PGs, supports the normal involvement of PGs in the regulation of male fertility. No significant gross or histological testicular alterations were observed after combined aspirin and PGE₂ treatments. Although a abundance of exfoliated immature germ cells and occasional multinucleated giant cells were frequently observed in the testes of PGE₂ treated rats, they were also noted but in fewer numbers in the aspirin and control groups. The probable causes, origin, fate and biological significance of the germ cell exfoliation and presence of multinucleated giant cells are discussed. The ultrastructural features of rat testicular cells were examined in normal, aspirin and PGE₂ treated rats. The ultrastructural effects of both aspirin and PGE₂ administration were most pronounced in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. Testicular germ cells appeared to be normal except in the late spermatids which contained greater lipid accumulations in rats treated with aspirin and PGE₂..