EJMS

Abstract

Background: Acrylamide is a commodity chemical with many industrial and laboratory uses. The detection of acrylamide as a new food toxicant fuelled a controversial debate about possible health risks for the general population. Objective: This work was performed to investigate the acrylamide-induced structural effects on the testis and to evaluate the possible protective role of concomitantly administered ascorbic acid in adult albino rats. Subjects: The study was carried out on 60 adult male albino rats divided into three main groups. Control group comprised three subgroups; negative control that received no treatment and two positive controls received an oral daily dose of distilled water or ascorbic acid, respectively. Acrylamide – intoxicated group received acrylamide at an oral daily dose of 10mg/kg for eight weeks. While, the protected group received ascorbic acid orally in a dose of 100 mg/kg daily for eight weeks, simultaneously with acrylamide (10mg/kg/day). Results: Light microscopic examination of acrylamide treated rats revealed germ cell depletion, giant cells and interstitial hyperplasia. Ultrastructural examination of the same group revealed markedly vacuolated Sertoli cell cytoplasm, irregularities in the basement membrane with increased collagen deposition and shrunken myoid cells, abnormalities in the tails of developing sperms and degenerated interstitial cells of Leydig. On the other hand, ascorbic acid–protected group showed amelioration of most of the degenerative changes depicted in the acrylamide intoxicated group. Conclusion: Acrylamide induced an injurious effect on the testis. Simultaneous administration of ascorbic acid with acrylamide ameliorated most of the testicular induced structural damage. Thus, ascorbic acid can be recommended as an efficient protector against acrylamide intoxication.