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Archives of Andrology
Journal of Reproductive Systems
Volume 43, 1999 - Issue 3
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Research Article

CHANGES IN THE EPIDIDYMAL ULTRASTRUCTURE IN HYPOTHYROID RATS

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Pages 197-201 | Published online: 09 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of hypothyroidism on the ultrastructure of the rat cauda epididymis. Thyroidectomy was obtained by ip injection of 270 muCi of 131I per rat. One month later, several portions of cauda epididymis were examined in an electron microscope. Morphological and physiological differences were detected in the cauda epididymis of the hypothyroid animals when compared to the control normal rats. The hypothyroid condition was associated with a decrease in the height of the cells and diminution of the internal lumen, number of mitoses, and chromatin decondensation. Hypothyroidism produces a remarkable impairment of epididymal morphology that could be mainly responsible for the functional alterations that lead to the dramatic slowing of spermatozoa motility, commonly seen in severe thyroid insufficiency.

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