The Effects of Using Retinoic Acid During Pregnancy on Spermatogenesis and Steroidogenesis in Mature Male Rat

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using Retinoic Acid during pregnancy on the spermatogenesis, testosterone and gonadotropin hormones in mature male rat. Pregnant rats were injected by 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg Retinoic acid (all-trans Retinoic Acid) intraperitoneally on the 8.5, 10.5, 12.5 and 14.5 days after copulation. An equivalent amount of the vehicle was similarly injected to corresponding control rats. Then animals did child birth. On time of maturity (10 weeks), from male animals in all of groups blood to determined the amount of hormones and the reproductive organs were separated. Morphometerical and Histological changes were studied in epididym and testis among experimental and control groups. The results were evaluated by using one way ANOVA and Tukey- test. Results indicateed that there were significant decrease in LH and FSH hormones, seminiferous tubules diameter, number of spermatocyte, spermatid and leydig cells experimental groups compared with the control group especially in animals which received 30 mg/kg of retinoic acid (p≤0.05). Also RA is the cause of decrease of the epididymis and deferent weight, and sperms in the epididymis, significantly (p≤0.05). Using of Retinoic Acid during pregnancy decreases the normal spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in mature male rats.