Abstract

Objective: Many xenobiotics such as solvents, pesticides and heavy metals, are suspected of being responsible for the decline in male fertility observed during the last century. Within this framework, to we evaluate the effects of lead on the male fertility of young male Wistar rats pubescent. Methods: Ten young male Wistar rats of 90 ± 5 days old and of an average body weight of 250 ± 20g were randomly divided into two groups (n = 5 in each group): the control group received distilled water an d the experimental group received the lead acetate solution (0.3%). After 90 days, the rats were euthanized followed by a quick removal of the testes and epididymis. These organs were immediately used in different experiments: The testes for the evaluatio n of spermatic parameters and epididymis for assays of heavy metals by atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Results: These results indicate a highly significant increase in the concentration of lead and a significant reduction of zinc in the rats exposed compared to the control rats. In addition, the increase in lead concentration and the decrease in zinc concentration resulted in a significant decrease in sperm parameters (vitality, motility, density and morphology) in the exposed rats compared with the control rats. Conclusion: This study shows that in adult rats, chronic exposure to lead induces changes in spermatic parameters, leading to a decrease in male fertility.