الفهرس 
Material and methodsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 163 |  |  |
| | | from | 163 | | |
Abstract
to study the normal pre-and postnatal development of the testis and to compare it with the development under the effect of zinc deficiency. 171 foeti and rats of diffe ot pre-and post-natal ages were used. The selected age groups of animals were:12 14 and 21 days of prenatalUfe , 10,20,30,40 & 50 days of post natal life. Each sel cted age group of animals was classified into a control and an experimental subg oups.
Zinc deficiency was duced by feeding the rats with a zinc-deficient diet and giving deionized distilled w ter during the experiment. The control animals were fed the same basal diet supple ented with a suitable zinc content and given deionized distilled water freely. reme care was taken to eliminate any source of zinc contamination in the diet a d in the environment. To confirm this purpose, the zinc content in the diet and wa er was repeatedly analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The ex erimental animals were kept under careful observation to detect any signs of zinc eficiency not seen in their controls. The individual body weight of the rats was reco ded continuously and tabulated. Mortality was recorded in aU groups.
At the proper time, a group of the experimental rats and their corresponding controls were sacrificed. e testes were weighed and some of them were analyzed to determine their zinc co ent, Using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer the zinc content in the serum nd the testis was determined. Some testes were fixed in Bouin’s fluid then stained with HX. & E., Moasson trichrome, Mallory stain and PAS techniques for histolo ical and histochemical examination. The other testes were fixed in glutaraldehyde fi ative for electron microscopic study to reveal the fine
structure of the testis.
The following results were btained:
(1) Foeti and newly borns 0 tained from the zinc-deficient animals were less in number, of reduced wei ht and showcd high incidence of congcnital anomalies.
(2) The obvious features ob erved in the zinc-deficient rats were anorexia and marked reduction of the body weight especially at the end of the feeding period . . The control animals ap eared healthy, consumed their diet and gained weight steadily.
(3) The concentration of zh c in the plasma and in the testis was decreased in the experimental animals as detected by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
(4) The hi’tolo ieal findin were:
a. Abnormal contour and atrophy of the seminiferous tubules which was more severe as the defici ncy state progressed, together with decreased diameter.
b. Degeneration and necrosis of the spermatogenic cells.
This resulted in & neral immaturity and impairment of spermatogenesis in the zlnc-deflele t pre-puberal and pubertal rats.
c. Partial degenerati n and laceration of the peritubular tissue, with extension or the intcrstitial 0 xlema into the tubules leading to intercellular oedema
and diminished cellular co ponents, The lacerated peritubular tissue also relds in disturbance of the blood testis barrier. Hence, this barrier is
necessary for the maturatio of the germ cells, so its disturbance, may be partially responsible for th general immaturity of the testis.
d) The interstiti showed oedema,eon&estion and degeneration of the
Leydig cells. S’ ce Leydig cells are the secretory cells or testosterone
e maturation of the genu cells.so the early degeneration of the Leydig c lIs leads to general immaturity of the testis and hypogonadism.
(5) Histochemically, PAS reaction was reduced which reveals a possible role of zinc in the carbohydrate etabolism.
(6) Ultrastructural chan es involved:
B. Necrosis of the spermatogenic cells with lost mitochondrial architecture. The mitochondri became swollen with lost cristae and the double-walled membrane. Arr of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium at the level of atocytes.
b. Leydig cells e ibited early signs of necrosis.
c. In Sertoli cells, the mitochondria became swollen and lost their normal architecture.
In conclusion, this work reveals the hazards which can affect the development of the testis in the st tus of zinc deficiency during the different stages of development. So, this udy recommends the importance of treatment of zinc deficiency which can oc ur in cases of its loss from the body as in (malabsorption syndrome, chronic ’alec olism, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal diseases and other chronically debilitating iseases), Zinc adminstration to these patients will be of great importance especi lly in the following cases:
(1) Pregnant mothe ,esn~piallY in the first trimester, (period of organogenesis) to avoid congenital malformations of the newly born.
(1) Children to avoi the arrest of growth and hypogonadism.
Finally, this study Iso suggests that some of the clinical manifestations of llyer cirrhosis such as (testl ular atrophy, loss of body halr, anorexia, poor wound beaU ••• and susceptibility t infect Ion) nlay be related to the zinc denciency
lItatei. Zinc therapy may b valuable to such pallents.