Effects of antidotal therapy on testis tissue in organophosphate poisoning

Aims: The study was aimed to clarify whether toxic effects of organophosphorus compounds on ultrastructural changes in the testis tissue are reversible with antidotal treatment or not. Materials and methods: In this prospective, controlled, electron microscopic animal study, Wistar albino adult male rats were divided into 3 groups. 1st group received only isotonic sodium chloride. 2nd and 3rd groups received lethal dose of [(LD50) = 30 mg / kg] Methamidophos. 3rd group was treated with atropine and pralidoxime after cholinergic signs had evolved. Results: In testicular tissue samples of rats in 2nd group, we have found structural degenerative changes. The giant lipid droplets, dense mitochondria, agranüler endoplasmic reticulum vacuolization have been observed. The thickness of membrana propria and electron density of Sertoli have been increased. Also findings of cytoplasmic lysis in most of the tubules, arrest in spermatogenic cells, immature release to lumen and apoptotic changes have been detected. In samples of 3rd group, degenerative changes in testicular tissue were similar to the 2nd group, and no significant structural improvement was proved after treatment. Conclusion: Our study revealed that acute exposure to Methamidophos causes important degenerative changes in all elements of testicular tissue; and those structural degenerative changes are not reversible with pharmacological drug treatment in the acute phase