Mahboubeh Belali Kharaji - Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Maryam Yadegari - Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Mohammad Hosseini Sharif abad - Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Morteza Anvari - Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Abolghasem Abbasi Sarcheshmeh - Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Hengameh Dortaj - Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Background and Objective: It is conceivable that caffeine consumption would induce gonadal changes. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of embryonic caffeine exposure on rat testis and prostate. Materials and Methods: Female rats were divided into (n=۷): A control, only received drinking water. B and C groups received caffeine low dose (۲۶ mg/kg) and high dose (۴۵ mg/kg) respectively via drinking water during pregnancy and lactation. Structural changes in testis and prostate were studied by using stereological methods at ۲۱, ۶۰ and۱۲۰ days of postnatal development. Results: Our result showed decreases in body and testis weight of offspring of group C compared to other groups at all ages (P< ۰.۰۵). The Testis volume showed significant differences between the offspring of both experimental groups and control at days ۲۱, ۶۰ and ۱۲۰ (P<۰.۰۵). There were significant differences in the number of sperm cells of offspring of experimental groups compared to the control group in different ages (P<۰.۰۵). The number of sertoli, spermatocyte and spermatid cells of offspring in group C showed a significant decrease compared with other groups at all days (P<۰.۰۱). The number of spermatogonia cells in group C offspring showed a significant decrease compared to the control group at different days (P<۰.۰۵). The mean Johnsen score decreased in offspring of group C compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Results showed that maternal caffeine consumption altered the structure of testis and prostate gland and spermatogenesis of offspring in adulthood

Caffeine, Testis, Prostate, Stereology, Rat offspring