Light and Electron Microscopic Studies of the Effect of Tamoxifen on the Testes of Male Mice

, Azza A. Attia

ABSTRACT

The effect of oral administration of tamoxifen (a synthetic non-steroidal antiestrogen) at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg/day for 60 days on the potency, the fecundity, the circulating concentrations of both Luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone and the ultrastructural changes of the male testicular tissues of mice were determined. Forty mg/kg/day tamoxifen was more effective than 20 mg/kg/day in reducing the male mice`s ability to inseminate the female (potency), as well as its siring ability (fecundity). Both doses of tamoxifen had reduced the concentrations of testosterone in plasma while circulating LH levels were significantly increased in the blood of mice taken 40 mg/kg/day tamoxifen comparing to those taken 20 mg/kg/day and the control. Light microscopic results showed that sections of mice testes treated with tamoxifen revealed the presence of severely damaged and entirely normal seminiferous tubules adjacent to one another in the same section. However, most sections of mice testes showed disorganization of cytoarchitecture arrangement of seminiferous tubules with obliterated lumen. This was accompanied by an obvious occurrence of vacuolated tubules in most sections of these testes. 40 mg/kg/day tamoxifen had devoid the mature sperm in most tubules and the reduction in Leydig interstitial cells was parallel to the decrease in testosterone levels. At the electron microscopic level, wide intercellular vacuolation between the spermatogenic cells and large numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles in most spermatids were seen. Clear sign of karyolysis and karyorrhexis in degenerating spermatocytes were observed. The Sertoli cells in a number of sections had an increased electron density with marked dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum and numerous dense bodies were dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Thus, the study supports that the tamoxifen as a potent antiestrogen, has a direct effect in inhibiting the testosterone synthesis and hence altered spermatogenesis and testicular morphology at low and high doses. Thus, it can be used as a potential contraceptive agent.

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Journal of Biological Sciences

Research Article