Effect of Arsenic (As) on the Spermatogenesis of Black Bengal Goat (Capra hircus) Reared at the Arsenic Prone Area of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh

Effect of Arsenic (As) on the Spermatogenesis of Black Bengal Goat (Capra hircus) Reared at the Arsenic Prone Area of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh

Aim: Arsenic (As) alters the spermatogenic process as well as testicular histology has been reported in different species of domestic, wild, aquatic life, and laboratory animals. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of toxicity of arsenic poison on the spermatogenesis of the Black Bengal goat at the most arsenic polluted area of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh by using histopathological techniques.

Methods: A total of 12 adult Black Bengal male goats (Capra hircus) were used in this study. Among these, 6 were selected from the arsenic polluted area, and the rest were from the less contaminated area as control. Goats were sacrificed by using conventional animal killing method adopted in the laboratory. Both the right and left testes were collected aseptically. Testicular tissues were cut perpendicular to the long axis of the testis and preserved in Bouin’s solution. Paraffin block was made and tissue sections were cut at 5-μm in thickness. Tissues were processed for routine hematoxylin and eosin and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS)-hematoxylin stains. Thickness of tunica albugenia, spermatigenic cell layer, diameters of the seminiferous tubules, number of spermatogenic, sertoli, and leydig cells were counted and tabulated. Apoptotic spermatogenic cells were detected by using Apoptosis Detection Kit. The data collected wastatistically analyzed for any significant differences between the arsenic exposed and control goats.

Results: Our results revealed comparatively increased thickness of the tunica albugenia, wide inter-tubular spaces, low height of the spermatogenic cell layer, decreased diameter of the seminiferous tubules, decreased spermatogenic, sertoli, and leydig cell counts, and marked increased of apoptotic spermatogenic cells in the arsenic affected goats. The data differences between the arsenic affected and control goats were statistically significant (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Our histopathological study revealed alteration of testicular tissues in arsenic affected goats. This morphological changes of testes significantly affected on the spermatogenic processes. But it was not possible to determine the possible stage of the spermatogenesis was interrupted by the arsenic. Decreased number of spermatogenic, sertoli, and leydig cell counts, and distinctly increased number of apoptotic spermatogenic cell indicates high toxic effects of arsenic poisoning on the male gonad. The mechanism of action of toxicity of the arsenic could not be understood clearly. It is suggested here that the Black Bengal goats can be experimentally used as animal model in the laboratory for investigating the role of arsenic on the reproduction of the domestic animals.