title: Taenia crassiceps: infections of male mice lead to severe disruption of seminiferous tubule cells and increased apoptosis.
abstract: This research was carried out to study the effects of infection with Taenia crassiceps cysticerci on the seminiferous epithelium histoarchitecture in the testes of male mice. Our results showed a severe disruption of the histoarchitecture of the testis epithelium in infected mice. In these animals, a significant infiltration of macrophages within seminiferous tubules was observed (P < 0.001). Generalized apoptosis of germ cells within the seminiferous tubules was observed, as assessed by TUNEL assay and apoptotic nuclei were quantified. The total number of fluorescent objects (DNA) (including clusters, singles, and objects in clusters) was significantly higher in the infected cells than in the control group (P = 0.0286). Observation of the interstitial tissue showed disorder and deterioration of many Leydig cells of infected mice, as well as intense vacuolization and destruction of their inter-cellular junctions. Several ultrastructural abnormalities were observed through electron microscopy as well. The observed pathology could lead to a state of infertility.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zepeda
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Copitin
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.forename: Maricarmen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tato
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Molinari
mesh_terms: D000165:Acridine Orange; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013621:Taenia / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000473:pathology*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D000165:Acridine Orange