Histological and ultrastructural study of the intracellular behavior of indium in the testicular tissues

Indium, a IIIA group element of the periodic chart, has many medical uses for diagnostic and clinical investigations in humans. This element is also used in industry and in nuclear fields where released streams can contaminate environment. Consequently, indium can reach humans mainly by natural ways. In this work, we attempted to study the incidence of this element on the food intake and body and testicle weights of rat, as well as the histological and the ultrastructural consequences of its presence in testicles using conventional transmission electron microscopy. Our study showed that this element induced a significant decrease in the food intake and body and testicles weights and caused necrosis and vacuolization in germinal cells. The ultrastructural observations showed the presence of electron-dense deposits characteristic of indium in the lysosomes of Leydig and Sertoli cells as well as sufferance in mitochondria of indium-treated rats. Despite the role of lysosome in the protection of living cells, by sequestration and concentration of indium in testicle cells under insoluble form, it is probable that this element has noxious effects on food intake and body and testicles weight and induces necrosis on seminal tissues of treated rats.