Aim: The aim of this study, was to investigate the effects of alcohol, passive smoking and alcohol+passive smoking on the testicular morphology of the adult Swiss albino mice.
Method: 32 male Swiss albino mice were used in this study. The animals were divided randomly in to four groups (n1=...n4=8): one group served as the control group, and the others were subjected to either alcohol, passive smoking or alcohol + passive smoking for 6 weeks.
Results: No differences were found in absolute or relative testis weights among the different groups. The mean seminiferous tubule diameter was gradually decreased in passive smoking, alcohol and alcohol + passive smoking groups when compared with control group. We found a statistically significant difference between control and alcohol + passive smoking groups (p=0,006), alcohol and passive smoking groups (p=0,005), and passive smoking and alcohol + passive smoking groups (p=0,004). Seminiferous tubules containing degenerated germinal epithelium and decrease in number of Leydig cells were observed in a few tubules of testes from passive smoking and alcohol groups. Degenerative changes were more severe in the group exposed to both alcohol and cigarette smoke.
Conclusion: In the present study, it was observed that alcohol, passive smoking and alcohol + passive smoking caused injury in testis tissue of Swiss albino mice and that these changes were more severe in alcohol + passive smoking group.
Key Words: Swiss Albino Mice , Testis, Alcohol, Passive Smoking.
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