Morphological changes in the testes of white rats and humans in acute and chronic alcoholic intoxications: Experimental and sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the effects of ethyl alcohol and narcotic drugs on male reproductive organs. Practically no studies have examined morphological transformations in the testicles during alcohol intoxication, which, at the current level of ethanol consumption by men of reproductive age, is a social and medical problem that is far from being solved. AIM: Through short-term and long-term experiments, this study aimed to examine the severity and dynamics of morphological changes in the gonads during alcohol intoxication in mature rats and in comparison with those in individuals who died from alcoholic disease and severe alcohol catamnesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study examined the testicles of sexually mature rats that were subjected to acute and chronic alcohol intoxications (from 2 weeks to 6 months) and testicles of persons who died in which ethyl alcohol was found in the blood (at least 5 promile) and alcohol catamnesis were noted. RESULTS: In both experimental and sectional materials, the stroma of the testicles was characterized by severe circulatory disorders with plethora and stasis in post-capillaries and small veins, edema, and perivascular and interstitial sclerosis. The inhibition of spermatogenesis in the sectional material was more pronounced, which indicated that alcohol was the main etiopathological factor in these changes. CONCLUSION: Chronic alcohol intoxication in both rats and men has damaging effects both directly, with changes in the stroma and testicular parenchyma, and indirectly on the overlying links of the reproductive system (hypothalamus and pituitary gland). The neurotoxic, microangiopathic, and disenergetic effects of ethanol inhibit normal spermatogenesis. Ultimately, the negative effect based on the morphological analysis was observed in the hypotesticular conditions and morphological manifestations of the testicular wasting syndrome.