Stereological assessment of the effects of vitamin D deficiency on the rat testis

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Table 2 Stereological profile and estimation of different cell types (× 10⁶) of testis parenchyma in the control and experimental rats

*Group* (n)	Relative Testis weight^a (%)	Testis volume (mm³)	Leydig Cells	Sertoli Cells	Total spermatogonia^b	Round spermatid	Elongated spermatid	Spermatocyte
1 (8)	0.48 ± 0.01	1.7 ± 1^a	25 ± 5.5	36 ± 17.6	177 ± 75^ac	250 ± 57^a	361 ± 80^a	136 ± 55^ac
2 (7)	0.5 ± 0.1	1.5 ± 0.3^b	18.6 ± 7	31 ± 9.4	126 ± 43^bc	111 ± 39^b**	167 ± 73^b**	80 ± 36^b*
3 (8)	0.49 ± 0.1	1.5 ± 0.3^b	17.8 ± 7.5	28 ± 7.8	85 ± 38^b*	101 ± 42^b**	157 ± 72^b**	79 ± 28^b**
4 (7)	0.47 ± 0.08	1.5 ± 0.2^b	18.5 ± 6.8	33 ± 10	136 ± 60^bc	210 ± 46^a	219 ± 70^b	102 ± 31^bc

Values in the table are means ± SD, n = Numbers of animals in each group
Means followed by a common small letter superscript are not significantly different and means followed by a different small letter superscript are significantly different, * < 0.05, as compared to group 1 (controls), ** < 0.001, as compared to group 1 (controls)
^aRelative Testis Weight = Mean testis Wt / Mean body Wt at the end of study period
^bThe mean of spermatogonia type A and B

ISSN: 1472-6823