Histomorphological Changes in Testis of Rats with Prolonged Exposure to Allethrin-Based Mosquito Coil Smoke.

Objective: To explore the potential adverse effects of prolonged inhalation of mosquito coil smoke on the testicular histomorphology and serum testosterone levels in rats.

Study design: An experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to December 2020.

Methodology: This study was carried out on 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into control Group A (n = 10) and experimental Group B (n = 10). Rats in Group B were exposed to mosquito coil smoke (allethrin-based) for 4 hours / day for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of exposure, serum testosterone levels and testicular morphology (seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height, and testicular capsule thickness) were compared between the groups.

Results: Rats exposed to mosquito coil smoke showed significantly reduced serum testosterone levels (p <0.001) along with testicular histological disruption in terms of significantly dilated seminiferous tubules (p <0.001), reduced germinal epithelial height (p <0.001), and thickened testicular capsule (p <0.001), as compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Prolonged inhalation of allethrin-based mosquito coil smoke reduced serum testosterone levels and caused testicular histological disruption in the exposed group of rats.

Key words: Allethrin, Germinal epithelium, Mosquito coil, Seminiferous tubules, Testicular capsule, Testosterone, Testis.