Histoarchitectural studies of gonads of rat pups following brief exposure to hyperthermia in-utero

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of hyperthermia on the gonads of the pups of Wistar rats following maternal exposure to brief hyperthermia during pregnancy. Twenty-five pregnant adult female Wistar rats were randomly selected into two groups: Group A (Control) which consisted of 10 female rats and Group B (Experimental) which had 15 female rats. The pregnant dams in the experimental group were exposed to brief hyperthermia for 15 minutes twice daily at 8.00am and 4pm on gestational day (GD) 12-18. The pups produced by the rats were weighed, examined and sacrificed at 35days of post-natal life. Recorded were the microscopic appearances of the gonads while the luminal diameter and thickness of the gonadal vessels were measured and recorded. Data was analysed, mean and standard deviation were generated with student t-test, and p< 0.05 was taken as significant. Maternal exposure to brief hyperthermia during pregnancy significantly reduced the birth weight of the pups in Group B (3.86 ± 0.26g) compared to Group A (4.71 ± 0.18g). The luminal diameters of the testicular and ovarian arteries of the pups in Group B were significantly increased whereas the gonadal vascular arterial wall thicknesses were significantly reduced in comparison with the Group A. Histological examination of the gonads revealed fewer cell population with degeneration and damage to the germinal epithelium of the gonads of the pups in Group B which was more severe in the testes. Maternal exposure to brief hyperthermia during pregnancy has deleterious effects and subsequent destruction of the gonads of pups of Wistar rats and this may interfere with fertility of the pups later.

Key Words: brief hyperthermia, gonads, maternal, pregnancy, wistar rats