الملخص

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a broadly used substance in our environment. The current study was established to investigate whether Shilajit inhibits the toxic effect of bisphenol in the testis and epididymis. Three groups of thirty rabbits were created: G1 received water and pellets as a control, G2 received bisphenol A (1 ml/kg), and G3 received bisphenol A (1 ml/kg) plus shilajit (0.2 g/kg). Histopathological findings showed characteristic testicular changes, including severe thickening of the tunica albuginea due to fibrosis  and degeneration of primary spermatogonia , atrophy of seminiferous tubules  with vacuolation ; severe widening of interstitial spaces and a distorted , detached basement membrane .There was thickening of the  basement membrane with  inflammatory cells in the interstitial tissue in G2.Also, the histopathological  findings of the epididymis showed  hydropic degeneration of the lining epithelia and severe collagen deposition and widening of the  interstitial tissue containing mononuclear  inflammatory cells as well as Oligospermia hyperplasia of the lining epithelia with thick stroma due to hypertrophy of smooth muscle fibers of G2.The third group showed closely packed seminiferous tubules with a regular appearance , sperm in the lumen ,a narrow interstitium, intercellular vacuolations minimal changes in the epididymal duct with scanty stereocilia  ,numerous  spermatozoa in the lumen  with few vacuolated cells , and narrowing interstitial tissue. The results of our study showed that BPA administration induced abnormalities and histopathological alteration in the testis and epididymis   Co-treatment with shilajit provided a protective antioxidant role against such adverse effects.