Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Testicular Toxicity and Histopathological Alteration in Male Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

Recently there has been an increased association between toxic substances present in the environment and male infertility. Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) is widely used as a chemical intermediate and as a feedstock in the production of chlorofluorocarbons. CCL4 is highly toxic to the liver, kidney, testicle, brain and other tissues. Therefore, the present study was designed to identify its effect on the reproductive system in adult male mice. Thirty adult male albino mice were divided into three equal groups (n=10): the first group control, the second group received 0.1m/100g body weight olive oil and the third group received 0.1ml/100g/body weight CCL4 intraperitoneally every alternate day for three weeks. The results showed that CCl4 causes a significant decrease in body weight, sperm motility, sperm count and testosterone level, while it leads to a significant increase in the number of abnormal sperm morphology. Additionally, CCL4 caused apparent alterations in the histological structure of the testes. In conclusion, CCl4-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice.