Effect of para-chlorophenylalanine on male rats: histopathological and biochemical changes in the testes

Spermatogenically active testes of rat challenged by 100 mg/kg body weight of p- Chlorophenylalanine for 45 days displayed marked and drastic changes in the seminiferous epithelium. Degenerative changes followed by immense necrosis of germ cells lead to complete breakdown of seminiferous tubules. Leydig cells, however, remained unaffected histologically in the treated animals. Among the accessory sex organs, epididymis alone showed a marked decrease in its weight. A biochemical study in the drug treated rats revealed a significant accumulation of glycogen in the testes accompanied by increase in the activities of enzymes like the succinic dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase, ATP-ase and acid phosphatases. However, a marked decrease was noticed in the activities of enzymes like alkaline phosphatase, phosphohexose isomerase and lactate dehydrogenase. No significant change was found in the protein, DNA and RNA concentrations in the drug treated testes. The histological and biochemical changes induced in the testes by p-CPA suggest the deleterious effect of the drug on the seminiferous tubules of the testes.