Back ground & Aims : This study was designed to determine the effects of alcohol administration on sperm quality and testicular tissue pathogenesis.

  Materials & Methods : In this study, 20 male adult mice were divided into two groups as control (saline normal) and test (ethanol 3g/kg BW as 25% V/V). The rats were given by gastric intubation, daily for 45 days and then all the animals were sacrificed and testes were dissected out and underwent histopathological studies. Sperm samples were collected from caudal epididyms in order to evaluate sperm parameters.

  Results : Percentage of seminiferous tubules with positive TDI, SPI, RI and leydig cells NO/mm2 of connective tissue and sertoli cells NO/tubule significantly decreased in alcoholic group. Light microscopic analysis of sperm parameters demonstrated that sperm motility, viability and count remarkably decreased in the test group in comparison with the controls. Moreover, the percentage of sperms with DNA disintegrity, nuclear immaturity and morphologic immaturity significantly increased in the alcoholic group compared with the control (P<0.05).

  Conclusion : The results revealed that ethanol damages spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis processes, as well, any decrease in semen quality and testis dysfunction induces fertility problems.

  SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2015: 26(2): 120 ISSN: 1027-3727