Effect of a zinc-free diet from weaning through puberty on the structure of the testis in albino rats, with a special focus on the Leydig cells

Introduction Zinc is an essential trace element. Many physiological processes would be impaired if zinc is not supplied in sufficient quantities in the diet. Aim The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of a zinc-free diet from weaning through puberty on the testicular structure of rats, with a special focus on the Leydig cells. Materials and methods Twenty weaned rats were divided into three groups. Group I (the control group) was fed a balanced diet. Group I I (the zinc-free group) was fed a zinc-free diet for 3 months. Group III (the recovery group) was fed a zinc-free diet for 3 months, followed by a balanced diet for 1 month. At the end of the experiment, rats were weighed and blood samples were collected to measure the level of serum testosterone hormone. The testes were removed, weighed, and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic study. Results The zinc-free group showed a significant decrease in the mean body weight, testis weight, and serum testosterone level compared with the control group. The light and electron microscopic ex amination showed loss of most of the spermatogenic cells accompanied by variable degrees of degeneration in the form of karryorhexis and haphazard chromatin content. In the interstitial tissue, there was accumulation of exudate. Many Leydig cells showed dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Others cells showed accumulation of glycogen. Most of these changes were reversed after receiving the balanced diet in the recovery group. Conclusion A zinc-free diet altered the structure of both the seminiferous tubules and the Leydig cells. Most of these alterations were reversed by zinc replenishment. Zinc is considered an essential element for maintaining testicular structure and spermatogenesis process.