Background:
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a frequently used analgesic and anti-pyretic drug which is widely available without a prescription. Its overdose causes tissue injury particularly in the liver.
Aim of the work
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of paracetamol on seminiferous tubules of adult rabbits.
Material and Methods:
In this study 18 adult male rabbits were utilized and equally divided into 3 groups (n=6): control group (group I), paracetamol low therapeutic dose group (group II) ); received daily oral dose (8 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks and paracetamol high therapeutic dose group (group III); received daily oral dose (16 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks. Testicular specimens were obtained 1, 2 and 3 weeks from the start of the experiment and sections were prepared for LM (H&E and Masson's trichrome) and EM examination. Statistical analysis for the mean area % of collagen fibers was performed.
Results:
The results revealed that low dose of paracetamol had no harmful effect on histological structure of seminiferous tubules while high dose induced mild harmful effect (few spermatogenic cells with cytoplasmic vacuolization and small dark nuclei) after one week that became moderate in the 2nd week sections. The paracetamol harmful effect was sever in the 3rd week sections with cell loss and alteration of the basement membrane of some spermatogenic cells. Statistical analysis for collagen fibers revealed a significant increase in collagen fibers accumulation in 2nd and 3rd week sections of high dose paracetamol group.
Conclusion:
It could be concluded that, paracetamol is toxic to the rabbit testis when it is used in high repeated therapeutic doses. So, it should be used cautiously especially when large prolonged dose is indicated.
Key Words: paracetamol – seminiferous tubules