The author studies the effect of ethionine upon the acrosome formation of spermatozoa
in albino rats.
Five tenth percent of DL-ethionine was added to the diet of the experimental group
rats and they were sacrificed after l,2,3, and 4 weeks, respectively. The testes were
observed by electron microscope:
The results obtained were summurized as follow:
The changes were decrease in electron density and irregularity of margin in acro-
somes, vacuolization, irregularity of margin and increase or decrease in electron density
in head cap, poorly defined border between acrosome and head cap, and decrease of
Golgi remnant. These changes were occurred at second to third weeks from start of
ethionine feeding and more severe at fourth week.
These overvation suggested ethionine induced degenerative changes of acrosome and
its related structures, characterized by decrease of electron density, vaculization and
irregularity of their margin. The degenerative changes of these structure were consi-
dered to be induced by secondary effects of damage to other organelle, such as mito-
chondria and so.
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