Effects of vancomycin linoleic acid nanoparticles on male reproductive indices of Sprague–Dawley rats

Figures & data

Table 1. Hormonal and weight changes in experimental groups.

Groups	Initial weight (g)	Final weight (g)	Weight difference (g)	Testicular weight (g)	Relative testicular weight %	Testosterone (ng/ml)	LH (mIU/ml)	FSH (mIU/ml)
A – Control	230 ± 26	250 ± 30	20 ± 4.70	3.08 ± 0.50	1.2 ± 0.10	0.43 ± 0.02	5.6 ± 1.0	1.6 ± 0.16
E – SLN	240 ± 35	250 ± 39	4.2 ± 7.70	2.99 ± 0.40	1.2 ± 0.07	0.34 ± 0.1	8.8 ± 0.44*	0.28 ± 0.11*
F – VSLN	240 ± 15	230 ± 18	3.4 ± 10∗	2.80 ± 1.00	1.2 ± 0.04	0.35 ± 0.20	8.3 ± 0.43*	0.37 ± 0.10*
G – LN	200 ± 13	190 ± 29	7.0 ± 23∗	2.68 ± 0.49	1.4 ± 0.40	0.45 ± 0.07	6.6 ± 1.2*	0.60 ± 0.04*
H – VLA	240 ± 16	250 ± 13	10 ± 5.20	3.24 ± 0.19	1.4 ± 0.06	0.32 ± 0.03	5.0 ± 0.98*	0.57 ± 0.05*

*p < .05 when compared with control, weight in grams. This table depicts the hormonal profile and body weights changes in the treatment and control groups.

Table 2. Morphometry of the seminiferous tubule – diameter, area, membrane thickness and cell count.

Groups/parameters	Diameter (µm)	Area (µm^2)	Thickness (µm)	Cell count (per microscopic field)
A – Control	394.4 ± 87.17	103,800 ± 13780	20.89 ± 6.43	300.90 ± 19.37
E – SLN	314.00 ± 24.61∗	74,390 ± 9459∗	51.00 ± 15.85	205.10 ± 21.73
F – VSLN	320.50 ± 39.99∗	75,930 ± 8883∗	45.72 ± 14.32∗	214.60 ± 44.25
G – LN	320.80 ± 36.38∗	79,880 ± 11,080∗	37.11 ± 6.31∗	286.50 ± 32.1
H – VLA	324.3 ± 37.47∗	88,010 ± 13,160∗	42.50 ± 16.36∗	187.70 ± 22.12

*Significantly different from control p < .05. (a) A-SLN is significantly different from control (E) p < .05. (b) C-LA is significantly different from A (SLN) p < .05. This table describes the morphometric parameters of seminiferous tubule (diameter, area, membrane thickness) and cell count in the treatment and control groups.

Figure 1. (a) Sperm count, (1b) sperm motility and (c) sperm morphology among the groups. This figure describes the testicular morphology and morphometric parameters across all the treatment groups and control. (A) Sperm count, (B) Sperm motility and (C) sperm morphology.

Figure 2. These photomicrographs depict the testicular sections of control and treated rats. The section of control shows well-preserved cytoarchitecture with normal cellular composition in the seminiferous germinal epithelium (GE). The interstitial (I) spaces filled with Leydig cells were normal. The lumen (L) is also populated by immotile spermatozoa (A). Notice thickened basement membrane (BM) with hypoplastic ST with loss of germ cells and hypocellular interstitium in other groups (H&E).

Figure 3. Photomicrograph of testicular sections stained with Masson’s Trichrome for connective tissue. Note the extensive, intense staining of seminiferous tubular Basement membrane and interstitial spaces alongside hypoplasia in sections E, F and H compared with control (A). Nuclei can be seen as dark red or black structures within the tubular cell population, while fibrous elements are stained light blue.

Figure 4. Photomicrographs of testicular sections stained with PAS. Note the intense pink colour and PAS-intensity of tubular cells in groups E, F and G. Control sections showed well stained and preserved architectural layout with preserved seminiferous tubular integrity. Evidence of hypoplasia with poor PAS staining in some tubules (G & H).

Data availability statement

All data are included in the submission/manuscript file.