Protective effects of caffeic acid phenetyl ester (CAPE) on exposure of cigarette smoke-induced histological changes in tar testes

The aim of this study was to investigate the histological changes in testis of rats exposed to cigarette smoke and effects of caffeic acid phenetyl ester (CAPE) on these changes. Fort his purpose, 21 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Animals in Group I were used as control. Rats in Group II were exposed to cigarette smoke and rats in Group III were exposed to cigarette smoke and injected daily with CAPE. At the end of the 60-days experimental period, all rats were killed by decapitation. Serum testosterone analysis were performed in the blood samples obtained from the animals. Following routine histological procedures, testicular tissue specimenswere examined under a light microscope. In our study, serum testosterone levels and diameters of seminiferous tubules were found to be decreased in rats exposed to cigarette smoke and these were prevented by the administration of CAPE. Light microscopic examination of testis specimens from rats exposed to cigarette smoke revealed that congestion of vessels and increase of connective tissue in the interstitial space. Additionally, there was vacuolization in the seminiferous tubules and a decrease in spermatogenetic cells. Whereas, exposure of cigarette smoke induced histological changes were not seen in rats exposed to cigarette smoke and injected with CAPE. In conclusion, it was observed that testicular functions of rats exposed to cigarette smoke were decreased and this decrease was prevented by administration of CAPE.