Hypobaric hypoxia causes impairment of spermatogenesis in developing rats at pre‐puberty. (27th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bai, Gang; Yang, Bin; Tong, Weimin; Li, Hongjun
• Is Part Of: Andrologia. Volume 50:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-02-27
• Subjects: developing rat at pre‐puberty -- hypobaric hypoxia -- recovery -- spermatogenesis; Andrology -- Periodicals; Infertility, Male -- Periodicals; 616.69
• DOI: 10.1111/and.13000
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0303-4569

Abstract

Summary: The effect of hypoxia on the spermatogenesis of male Wistar rats ( n = 32) at pre‐puberty was studied using a hypobaric chamber simulating an altitude of 5, 000 metres above sea level. Persistent hypoxic exposure with brief interruption for 3 weeks caused significant decreases in body and testis weights and testosterone level compared to the normobaric controls. Histologically, spermatogenic development was arrested; arrays of spermatids were misshaped; numbers of spermatogonia, Sertoli and Leydig cells were reduced; and apoptotic spermatocytes were increased substantially in the germinal epithelium of testis in the hypoxic‐exposed group. These hormonal and histopathological changes did not improve remarkably after 3 weeks of normobaric conditions. There was a significant decrease in sperm production when the rats in the hypoxia/oxygen‐resuming group were examined at 63 days of post‐natal age. Exposing rats to hypoxic conditions at pre‐puberty induced damages on spermatogenesis, which could affect sperm production after sex mature.