title: Stereological evaluation of the seminiferous tubules of rats after maternal undernutrition during the lactation period.
abstract: The goal of this study is to evaluate, through stereological methods, some structural aspects of offspring testes whose dams were submitted to protein and energy-restricted diets during the lactation period. At birth, dams were separated into 3 groups: control group (C), receiving a diet with 23% protein; protein-restricted group (PR), receiving a diet with 8% protein; energy-restricted group (ER), receiving a diet with 23% protein in restricted quantities. At weaning, the offspring was anesthetized and perfused with formalin solution. Then, the testes were excised and processed using routine histological methods. Compared to the C group, both PR and ER groups had a significant reduction in the testis weight (PR = 65%, ER = 60%, p < 0.01), in the total area (PR = 23%, ER = 32%, p < 0.01), in the luminal area (PR = 30%, ER = 36%, p < 0.01), in the epithelial area (PR = 21%, ER = 27%, p < 0.01), and in the epithelial height (PR = 17%, ER = 23%, p < 0.01) of the seminiferous tubule. We conclude that maternal malnutrition during lactation leads to structural changes in the testis that could be responsible for future alterations in this organ physiology.
authors.affiliation: Urogenital Research Unit, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. cramos_uerj@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Cristiane da Fonte
authors.initials: Cda F
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Alexandra Moreira
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Waldemar Silva
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Francisco J B
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009929:Organ Size; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000473:pathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology