THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE TESTIS IN RATS AFTER LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH LEAD ACETATE

Studies were performed to investigate the influence of long-term lead acetate treatment on morphology of rat testis. No marked changes were observed by means of light microscopy. At all stages (I-XIV) of the se miniferous epithelium cycle, all generations and layers of spermatogen ic cells were present. Electronmicroscopic studies did not reveal any ultrastructural changes neither in seminiferous epithelium nor in Sert oli cells. In Leydig cells also, no ultrastructural abnormalities were visible. Macrophages of testicular interstitial tissue contained elec tron-dense inclusions, usually located inside phagolisosome-like vacuo les. X-ray micro-analysis revealed that the inclusions contained lead.