[Effect of estradiol valerate on the male reproductive organs and various semen parameters in rats]

The effect of the administration of estradiol valerate on the male reproductive organs, on their histological structure, and several semen parameters of Wistar rats was studied. In experiment A and B 140 micrograms estradiol valerate/kg b.w. were administered once a week for 4 weeks to 14 weeks old rats by s.c. injection. One week after the 4th injection the rats of experiment A were sacrificed, while the rats of experiment B lived 5 weeks without treatment for recovery. In both experiments, suppression of body weight, food consumption, decreases in absolute and relative weights of testes, epididymides, prostate and semen vesicles were observed along with testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate atrophy. The absolute and relative weights of adrenals and pituitary revealed a tendency for increase in both treated groups. The histopathological examination of the testes revealed degeneration of spermatozytes in experiment A, and degeneration of spermatozytes, spermatides, spermatozoa, Sertoli and Leydig cells in experiment B. In experiment A the motility, and number of sperms was significantly decreased, the sperm abnormalities were significantly increased. In experiment B the motility of sperms was slightly, the number significantly decreased and the abnormalities slightly increased.