Testicular dysfunction in BALB C mice with Schistosoma intercalatum bilharziasis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Schistosoma intercalatum infestation on the testicular function of mice.


METHODS
Male BALB C mice were infested by immersion of the tail and hind feet into the water with 50 or 100 cercariae of Cameroon strain S. intercalatum. Sixty days later the animals were killed, blood was collected and the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles were dissected and weighed. The plasma and testicular testosterone were evaluated with radioimmunoassay, the seminal vesicular fructose with colorimetric method, and the histology of testis and cauda epididymis observed under light microscope. The intensity of infestation was estimated in terms of S. intercalatum egg load in the liver.


RESULTS
In infested mice, the testicular weight did not change significantly while the epididymal and seminal vesicular weights were significantly lowered compared to the controls. Furthermore, the fructose levels in the seminal vesicle fluid were significantly (P<0.01) reduced in about 50% of infested mice. S. intercalatum infestation also decreased the plasma and testicular testosterone concentrations. Histological studies indicated that the spermatogenesis, the testicular interstitial tissue and the cauda epididymis were qualitatively normal. Parasite eggs were not found in these organs. The mean seminiferous tubular diameter did not show significant differences between the infested and control mice.


CONCLUSIONS
S. intercalatum infestation impairs testicular function.
Jatsa
Hermine Boukeng
HB
Animal Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. h.jatsa_@caramail.com
Kamtchouing
Pierre
P
Takougang
Innocent
I
Sokeng
Selestin Dongmo
SD
D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012547:Schistosoma; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D005632:Fructose; D013739:Testosterone