Date of Award

12-1985

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Cecil L. MeIntire

Second Advisor

Dr. Lindsley Foote

Third Advisor

Dr. Gyula Ficsor

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have produced evidence to support an association between cigarette smoking and abnormal sperm morphology. At the least , an effect on sperm morphology indicates the involvement of the testis. Therefore, the research was designed to survey the potential of cigarette smoking for inducing histopathology in the testes of mice, and if there was damage, would vitamin E overcome it.

In the present study the testes of C57BL/6 mive exposed to cigarette smoke and/or vitamin E and 22 control mice were histologically processed. Sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin were assessed for total histopathology and revealed statistically significant differences between the groups. Sections stained with Oil Red 0 were evaluated for amounts of lipid (testosterone) present in the seminiferous tubules and revealed statistically significant differences between groups. On the basis of the results observed, further study is encouraged to determine the possibility of a genetic risk from cigarette smoking.

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