Histological Study on the Testes of Albino Rats Born to Mothers Treated with Metformin

Background and Aim of work: Metformin is used for treatment of type 2 diabetes and infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Metformin has been shown to pass freely across the placenta. However, there were no enough studies on the safety of metformin given during pregnancy and lactation on the Offspring testes. So, this work was done to evaluate testicular changes in male offspring albino rats due to exposure to metformin in utero and during lactation. Materials and Methods: This study included twenty five pregnant albino rats; twenty of them were given oral metformin 300 mg/kg once daily during pregnancy and lactation while the other five were not given metformin. Thirty nine of their male Offspring were taken and were divided into three groups. Each group included thirteen male Offspring; three male Offspring of non treated mothers served as a control group and ten male Offspring of treated mothers served as a treated group. Group I: Rats were scarified seven days after birth. Group II: Rats were scarified on day twenty one (immediately after weaning).Group III: Rats were scarified thirty days after weaning. Specimens from the left testes were processed for light microscopic study using Hematoxylin and Eosin, while specimens from the right ones were processed for semithin and ultrastructural study. Results: The testes of the treated group I showed thickened tunicae albuginea, dilatated and congested testicular blood vessels but apparently normal Sertoli cells and spermatogonia .Many fibroblast and collagen fibres were present in the interstitial tissue. The treated group II showed vacuolated spermatogenic epithelium and many apoptotic cells. Also there was vacuolization of some Sertoli cells and hypertrophy of the peritubular myoid cells. In treated group III, the seminiferous tubules showed many shrunken spermatogenic cells with vacuoles between them. Some myoid cells exhibited many cytoplasmic processes. Conclusion: In utero and lactational exposure to metformin induce various changes in the histological structure of the testes of albino rats. These changes might affect the male fertility.