Stereological study of the effects of vitamin E on testis structure in rats treated with para-nonylphenol

This study was organized to see whether vitamin E, as a strong antioxidant, could affect the abnormalities of testis structure caused by para-nonylphenol (p-NP) during its development. A total of 32 female Wistar rats after mating were divided into four groups (n = 8): control, vitamin E (100 mg kg(-1) per day), p-NP (250 mg kg(-1) per day) and p-NP + vitamin E. The rats were treated from the seventh day of pregnancy till the twenty-first day. After weaning, the male pups were divided into the same groups and were treated orally for 90 days. Finally, the right testis was fixed, processed, stained and studied using stereological methods. The weight and volume of testis, volume of seminiferous tubules and its diameter, thickness of the basement membrane, height of the germinal epithelium, total number of types A and B spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid and Sertoli cells were significantly reduced in p-NP group when compared with other groups. Co-administration of vitamin E and p-NP compensated for the adverse effects of p-NP on the above parameters. In addition, treatment with only vitamin E caused a significant increase in diameter, basement membrane thickness and height of germinal epithelium, number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Co-administration of vitamin E with p-NP could prevent the adverse effects of p-NP on the testis structure during its development.