The effect of osteocalcin on testis morphometry in azoospermic Syrian male NMRI

The aim of this study was to evaluat the protective effect of osteocalcin on testis tissue in adult azoospemic mice.
Method and materials
25 Adult male mice were divided into five groups: the control group received normal saline for two months, PBS- DMSO group (received DMSO and after 5weeks they received PBS for 30 days), and busulfan group received a single dose of 40mg/kg busulfan intra-peritoneally, and busulfan-PBS group received 40mg/kg busulfan and after 5 weeks PBS daily for a month, and the busulfan- osteocalcin group received 3ng/g/d osteocalcin, daily for one month, 5 weeks after a single dose of busulfan. Finally, after removal of the testis, tissues were fixed in bouin solution and stained by H&E. the sections were evaluated, and morphometric tests were done. No significant reduction was found in body weights of the groups, however, left testis weight in the osteocalcin group showed a significant raise in comparison with the azoospermic group (p˂0/05). Moreever, a significant increase in seminiferous tubule diameter was observed in the osteocalcin group in comparison with the control group (p˂0/05). Testicular epithelium height was significantly increased in the osteocalcin group versus the azoospermic group (p˂0/05). There weren’t any significant changes in sertoli, leidyg, myoid counting among all the groups. The total number of spermatocyte, round spermatid, elongated spermatid, and spermatogonia cells showed a significant increase in the osteocalcin group in compared to the busulfan and busulfan-PBS groups (p˂0/05). Osteocalcin can improve the cytotoxic effect of busulfan on spermatogenic cells, also can improve spermatogenesis.