Tissue sections from testis epididymides and seminal vesicles from 15male rats which were chronically intoxicated by heroin
and 15 normal male rats werestudied by light microscope(LM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Theresults showed that seminiferous tubules from all the rats intoxicated by herion presented a striking reduction in the thickness of the
germinal epithelium and prematuresperm was found in seminiferous tubules from 5 of the normal, 14 of the rats intoxicatedby heroin showed hyposperm, detachment of immature germcells and many teratospermwhich appeared in the seminiferous tubules. Tissue sections from epididymides andseminal vesicles from all the 15 rats intoxicated by herion showed hyposperm of the lumina. TEM studies also showed a striking decrement in spermatid, denaturative spermatid which appeared free in the tubular lumina, swelling and hydropic change in mitochondria in the necks of sperm, hydropic change and a considerable alterations abovewere found in the tissue sections from testis from 4 rats intoxicated by herion. OF the 4rats, 2 rats presented a striking expansion in nuclear envelopes in several spermatogoniaand the vast majority of spermatocytes stagnated in premeiotic period. Individual leydig's cells were found destroyed. TEM studied also showed a striking increase ofphagosomes and pinosomes in the absorbing cells in epididymal epithelium, a partialreduction of microvilli in the absorbing cells in epididymal epithelium, many membraniform bodies and teratosperm in the tubular lumina.These histopathological alterations proved further the toxic effects of heroin sampleson testis and epididymides.