Toxic effect of Lithium carbonate on Testis of newborn rat at breast feeding

The present study was conducted in order to examine the toxic effect of lithium on changes in serum levels of testosterone and histomorphometrical changes in testicular tissue and particularly on spermatogenesis in testis of newborn rats through breastfeeding. From the first day to the end of breastfeeding period (21 days) and every other day, the newborn rats were fed with lithium carbonate with an average dose of 800 mg/kg that was intraperitoneally injected to their breastfeeding mothers. Hormonal tests were carried out using Free Testosterone kits by ELISA method. The samples of testicular tissue were examined under light microscope by hematoxylin and eosin stain method. The data were presented as Mean±SE, and data analysis was carried out through t-test using SPSS 13.0 in order to compare the difference between the normal and the treatment groups. The results obtained in the present study showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of blood testosterone levels, diameter of seminiferous tubules of testicular tissue, and length and weight of the testicles. However, they were not significantly different with regard to the effect of drug secretion in the breast milk on the newborn rats’ repopulation index. Moreover, division of spermatogenetic meiosis 1 and 2 occurred in the normal group while spermatogenesis was not complete in the treatment group. The results of the present study indicated that spermatogenesis stopped and delayed after lithium carbonate secretion in breast milk, which is in line with the above findings.