Epididymal mitochondrial status of hypothyroid rats examined by transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

Hypothyroid rats show alterations in the mobility of sperm recovered from their epididymides. The AgNOR technique, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate changes in epithelial cells from epididymides of rats treated with ¹³¹I. Counting of NORs did not permit detection of changes in the proliferative capacity of epididymides of hypothyroid animals. Transmission electron microscopy revealed changes in the mitochondria of hypothyroid rats that probably are associated with incipient apoptosis.

Key words::

• actin
• AgNOR
• electron microscopy
• epididymis
• hypothyroidism
• immunohistochemistry
• phalloidin
• rat

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.