The effect of maternal exposure to flaxseed on spermatogenesis in F-1 generation rats

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a flaxseed (20 or 40%), flaxme al (13 or 26%) or standard NlH AlN-93 (0% flaxseed control) diet throughout gestation and until their offspring were weaned. After weaning, Fl generat ion males were placed in the same diet treatment groups as their mothers fo r 70 days. Statistically significant differences were not observed between either low-dose or high-dose flaxsced and flaxmeal-treated animals and the 0% flaxseed control animals for testis weights, homogenization resistant sp ermatid counts, daily sperm production rates, epididymal weights, seminal v esicle weights, seminiferous tubule fluid testosterone! concentrations and the percentage of sperm abnormalities. The following statistically signific ant differences were observed when treated groups and the 0% flaxseed contr ol groups were compared: (1) increases in serum LH in the 20% and 40% flaxs eed treatment groups and in serum LH and testosterone in the 26% flaxmeal t reatment group; (2) increases in the cauda epididymal weight from the 20% a nd 40% flaxseed groups; (3) increases in cauda epididymal sperm numbers/g e pididymis from the 20% and 40% flaxspeed and the 13% and 26% flaxmeal treat ment groups; (4) a decrease in prostatic a weight from the 20% flaxseed and 13% and 26% flaxmeal treatment groups. Prostate weight in the 40% flaxseed treatment group was lower but not statistically significantly different th an the 0% flaxseed control group. Histological effects on spermatogenesis s ere not observed in either the control group, flaxseed or the flaxseed trea ted groups. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.