Histophysiological changes of the testicular tissue due to busulphan administration in the wild Indian house rat (Rattus rattus)

The results of the present study indicate the antispermatogenic activity of Busulphan or Myleran (1,4-dimethane-sulphonoxy butane) on the testicular t issue of adult male Indian house rat, Rattus rattus. Single oral dose of Bu sulphan (10 mg/Kg body weight) was administered and its activity was notice d at 10, 40, 70 and 100 days of posttreated animals. Histological observation and quantitative histological study indicates no m ajor alteration in the relative percentages of primary spermatocytes, sperm atid and Sertoli cells at 10 days of posttreatment. But there was a gradual decrease in the seminiferous tubular diameter at 40 and 70 days of post tr eated groups. However, the Leydig acid Sertoli cells morphology and number remained normal in all the treatment groups. At 40 days, the normal cellula r associations in all the tubules were disrupted. The tubules constituted o nly spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and some zygotene spermatocytes. At 70 day s, repopulation of Type A, Type B spermatogonia, resting and zygotene sperm atocytes occurred at this stage. The tubules were still devoid of pachytene spermatocytes, spermatid and spermatozoa. At 100 days, active spermatogene sis was observed in majority of the tubules. The various types of germ cell population were regaining towards normalcy. Histochemical studies clearly revealed that due to busulphan administration there was no major alteration in the intensities of some key enzymes (i.e. Delta5 3 beta -HSDH and 17 beta -HSDH) involved in the biosynthesis of ste roid hormones. Only the acid phosphatase activity was slightly depressed wi thin the 40th and 70th days of posttreatment, Sudanophilic lipid materials increased in the interstitium of all the busulphan post treated groups. The changes which were noticed due to busulphan treatment regained normalcy at 100 days of post treated animals. The mode of action of Busulphan on the testicular tissue of adult Indian ho use rat(Rattus rattus) has been pointed out and discussed.