DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i05.063

Pages: 2111-2117

Male infertility is one of the major health problems in our society and the possibility that chemicals may disrupt the endocrine system in humans and animals has received considerable attention in the scientific and public community. This investigation was therefore set up to determine the testiculotoxic effect of musk-based incense (MBI) on adult albino rats, using histology and sperm parameters. The stereological evaluation of the rat testes showed that the tubular diameter, the cross sectional area of the tubules, the number of tubular profiles per unit area and the mean numerical density of seminiferous tubules of the group B rats that were exposed to smoke from 2g of MBI approximated those of the control animals while rats that were exposed to 3g and 5g of MBI shows a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction when compared. The MBI exposed groups of rats demonstrated reduction of basal seminiferous epithelia cells, marked testicular atrophy, germinal aplasia and hypo-spermatozoa formation. The results evaluated from the sperm parameters shows a decrease in sperm motility, a decrease in sperm count, and an increase in abnormal sperm morphology. Animals in Group B (control) showed a non significant decrease (p > 0.05) in sperm motility, sperm count and sperm morphology when compared to Group A. Group C & D showed significant decrease (p < 0.05) in sperm count, sperm motility, and an increase in abnormal sperm morphology. The histological examinations of the MBI exposed groups of rats showed a derangement of the basal semineferous epithelia, testicular atrophy, germinal aplasia and hypospermatozoa in the lumen.