The Effect of Varied Doses of Nicotine on Some Morphometric Parameters of the Testis in Albino Wistar Rats

Background: This study is aimed at determining the effect of nicotine on male fertility by evaluating some morphometric parameters of male Wistar rat such as testicular weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, height of epithelium, sertoli-germ cell ratio and Johnsen’s score in order to assess the spermatogic index. Methods: 20 adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups, the test groups were administered with 0.2mg/100g, 0.4/100g and 0.6/100g body weight of nicotine base daily for 30 days using a polythene catheter orally , while the control were administered with 2mls 0.9%physiological saline. Histological slides of the testis were made and data obtained from the slides. Results: nicotine caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) and (P< 0.01) in the mean values of the morphometric parameters of the test group compared with control. The Johnsen’s Score results were 5.4 ± 0.51*, 5.2 ± 0.37* for groups 2 and 3 respectively. For seminiferous tubule diameter the significant values were 208.0±4.22**, 184.5±11.31**in groups 2 and 3, whilst the height of epithelium showed a significant reduction of 153.9± 13.58*, 101.6 ± 1.35**, 76.6 ± 6.65** for groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Sertoli-germ cell ratio showed a significant reduction in groups 2 and 3 with values of 3.6 ± 0.77 ** , 1.5 ± 0.16**for groups 2, and 3 respectively, testicular weight showed significant reduction of 1.2±0.05**,1.1±0.05** for group 2 and 3.The results stated are only those that showed a significant reduction at 95% confidence level when compared with the control. Conclusion: It was concluded that nicotine exerted an adverse effects on the spermatogenic index with concomitant reduction in reproductive potentials of the male rat. Nicotine and nicotine- based products should therefore be taken with caution in cases of infertility in man and animal. Key words: Morphometric parameters ,Johnsen’s Score,Spermatogenic index , fertilit