Testicular changes in newborn rats exposed to phototherapy

In this study we investigated the long-term effects of 72-h continuous phot otherapy on the reproductive system of newborn rats. The animals' weight, f ertilization rates, and number of newborn and histopathological changes in the gonads in a normal group not exposed to phototherapy and in the test an imals were compared. At the age of 24 weeks there were no significant differences between the tw o groups, apart from the histology of the testicles of the male rats who we re exposed to the phototherapy. The study group showed a significantly redu ced diameter of the seminiferous tubules when compared to the controls (P < 0.001). It can be postulated that phototherapy may cause histological dege nerative changes in the structure of the rat's testes, even though there we re no changes in fertilization rates. Further studies are necessary to reve al the effects of phototherapy on humans and to determine the effects, if a ny, on fertility.