MORPHOMETRIC AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES ON THE RAT TESTIS FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF ANTISERUM TO HUMAN SEMINAL PLASMA INHIBIN

A study was undertaken to see the effects of antiserum to human seminal plasma inhibin (hSPI) on the morphology of rat testis. Morphometric, light microscopic, and ultrastructural studies were done on rat testis after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of administration of antiserum to hSPI. Daily sperm production rate was also estimated by histometric method. The light microscopic analysis showed a slight decrease in tubular diameter which was not significant. The degenerative changes in the tubules were marked after 12 weeks of treatment. The daily sperm production rate was reduced by 50% after 12 weeks of treatment. The ultrastructural study revealed phagocytosis of elongated spermatids and spermatozoa enclosed in a vacuole surrounded by Sertoli cells. The Sertoli cells were dedifferentiated into an immature type. The spermatogonia were not affected. The treatment with antiserum to hSPI alters testicular morphology at the spermatid and mature spermatozoa level. Since treatment with AshSPI is known to elevate the FSH level it appears that the morphological changes correlate with the endocrine status.