Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: The aim of the present study was to stereological evaluate the protective effect of green tea extract on the morphological changes of seminiferous tubules following sodium arsenite exposure in mice.
Material and Methods: 24 adult male NMRI mice were randomly divided into four groups including control, sodium arsenite (5mg/kg/day), green tea extract (100 mg/kg/day) and finally sodium arsenite+green tea extract. Mice were (orally) treated for 34 days. At the end, mice were sacrificed and their right testis were taken out, fixed, processed and stained with heidenhain' azan method. The morphological and changes of testicular tissue was examined using stereological methods. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and means difference was considered significant at p < 0.05.
Results: Sodium arsenite treatment caused a significant decrease in the mean seminiferous tubules diameter (p < 0.008), germinal epithelium height (p < 0.001) and the basement membrane thickness (p < 0.011) as well as in the number of spermatocyte (p < 0.003), round spematid (p < 0.028), long spermatid (p < 0.011) and sertoli (p < 0.03) cells compared to the control group. The above changes increased to the control level in sodium arsenite+green tea exteract group.
Conclusions: The results indicate that green tea extract may be useful in reducing the toxic effects induced by sodium arsenite.