Pathological changes of testicular tissue in normal adult mice: A retrospective analysis

Xie,Bao‑Guo; Li,Jing; Zhu,Wei‑Jie

doi:10.3892/etm.2014.1481

Pathological changes of testicular tissue in normal adult mice: A retrospective analysis

Authors:
- Bao‑Guo Xie
- Jing Li
- Wei‑Jie Zhu
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Affiliations: Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, P.R. China, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, P.R. China
Published online on: January 9, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1481
Pages: 654-656

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Abstract

Mouse testicular experimental models are widely used in the study of andrology, reproductive toxicology and pharmacology. Under physiological conditions, a normal adult mouse is usually considered to have normal testes. However, whether normal adult mouse testes exhibit pathological changes has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathological changes of testicular tissues in normal adult mice. A retrospective analysis of 720 adult male Kunming mice, used in previous studies as controls, was performed. Bilateral testicular tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for pathological examinations. Among the 720 mice, nine had abnormal testes, an incidence of 1.3%. The nine mice with abnormal testes included two with microrchidia (22.2%) while the others had a normal testicular size. The observed pathological changes associated with microrchidia were seminiferous epithelial vacuolation, spermatogenesis arrest at the spermatocyte stage and the absence of sperm in all tubules. In other abnormal testes, pathological alterations included seminiferous epithelial vacuolation, severe hypospermatogenesis and symplasts composed of collapsed spermatids in tubules. The results demonstrate that normal adult male mice exhibit testicular pathological changes. Therefore, the possibility of abnormal testes in normal adult mice must be considered when using mice to establish a testicular experimental model.

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