Modern epidemiological data clearly show that the increase in the incidence of male infertility occurs on the background of the “non-infectious epidemics” of the 21st century: metabolic syndrome (MS), obesity and type 2 diabetes, which have a negative effect on the synthesis and functioning of testosterone, a major hormone ensures male sexual constitution and reproductive potential. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of MS developed in juvenile age, on the morphology of testicles and epididymises of male rats. Animals (3 weeks age) were divided into 2 groups of 10 each. We have shown that in testes of rats with MS germinal epithelium was diluted and thin, and the number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes decreased. In some tubules dystrophically altered spermatocytes and signs of apoptotic death of cells were observed. Exfoliated germ cells were present in the lumen of the tubules, among which there were dystrophically altered first order spermatocytes and spermatozoa in small number. Dystrophically altered epithelial cells were detected also in epididymises’ tubules. Thus, the development of MS in the juvenile age led to disorders in the formation of spermatogenic epithelium and dystrophic changes in the testicles. The presented results provide the basis for further research and development of effective methods of prevention and treatment of male infertility caused by MS.
