Role of coenzyme Q10 in testicular damage induced by acrylamide in weaned albino rats: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Introduction: Acrylamide is a vinyl monomer frequently used in the polymer industry. It has the potential to adversely affect male reproductive capacity. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a strong antioxidant. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the histological changes in the testis after the administration of acrylamide and the possible protective role of CoQ10. Materials and methods: Thirty weaned male albino rats aged 21 days were classified into three groups of 10 rats each: group I was the control group; group II (acrylamide-treated rats) received oral acrylamide at 15 mg/kg body weight/day; and group III (protected group) received both acrylamide (at the same previous dose) and an intraperitoneal injection of CoQ10 at 10 mg/kg body weight/day. After 8 weeks, blood samples were taken to measure the serum testosterone level. The testes from each animal were dissected out and processed for light microscope examination using H E stains and immunohistochemical stains for the detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Morphometric and statistical analyses were carried out. Results: After the administration of acrylamide, variable degrees of tubular affection were observed. Some tubules were shrunken with disorganized germinal epithelium. Spermatogonia contained darkly stained nuclei. Cellular vacuolations as well as sloughed spermatogenic cells into the lumen were observed. The interstitium was widened with interstitial hyperplasia, eosinophilic material, and congested capillaries. Immunohistochemically, acrylamide treatment induced a marked reduction in the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunoreactive spermatogonia and spermatocytes and an increase in the number of inducible nitric oxide synthase immunoreactive spermatids and spermatocytes. The concomitant administration of CoQ10 with acrylamide induced an observable protection against these changes. Conclusion: CoQ10 played a protective role against acrylamide-induced testicular damage.