Toxic effect of lead on the testes of rat

Biochemical and histopathological studies were performed on the testes of rats after feeding lead acetate at a concentration of 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 g/l over a period of 60 days. Testicular atrophy along with cellular degeneration was conspicuous at 1 g/l. Furthermore, high cholesterol concentration and significantly low ascorbic acid concentration were found in the testes at the same dosage. The lowest dose (0.25 g/l) did not produce any significant morphological and biochemical alteration whereas 0.5 g/l resulted in partial inhibition of spermatogenesis.