Changes of testicular ultrastructure of rat after clenbuterol exposure

ObjectiveTo investigate effects of clenbuterol (CLB) on testicular ultrastructure of rat.MethodsTwenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (5 rats per group). CLB solved in normal saline solution was given at the dose of 0 mg/kg body weight (bw) (group A, as control), 0.4 mg/kg bw (group B), 2.0 mg/kg bw (group C), and 18.5 mg/kg bw (group D) for 14 d by gavage consecutively, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe changes on testicular ultrastructure.ResultsIn group B, some small vacuoles were found in Sertoli cells. In groups C and D, vacuoles were common in Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. The phenomenon of vacuolation in group D was more severe than that in group C. In group D, basal membrane showed some irregular and wrinkled changes, Leydig cells had more vacuoles and increased lipid droplets.ConclusionTesticular ultrastructure of rat had pathological changes after CLB exposure, and the alterations became more severe with the increasing doses.