Lead-induced experimental lesions of the testis and their treatment

Thirty-six healthy albino rats were divided into three groups and the histologic structure of the testes was examined after treatment: group 'C'--10 healthy control rats were untreated; group 'Pb'--eight rats received intraperitoneal injections of 8.5 mg per kg body weight lead acetate for 154 days (15 doses in all); group 'PbA'--eight rats intoxicated with lead, like group 'Pb' but which, during the last 21 days before killing, were treated with 5 ml per kg body weight per day of a 2% injectable solution of sodium aspartate. As compared with the controls, group 'Pb' showed alteration of the histopathologic pattern and reduction in the size of seminiferous tubules, basal membrane separation and a decrease in the cell content of the germinal layer, lesions of the spermatocytes and spermatids, and slight oedematous dissociation in the interstice. In 75% of the group 'PbA' animals, normal aspects similar to those of group 'C' were found.