Effect of dihydrotestosterone on ultrastructural changes in rhesus monkey spermatozoa.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was given at 10, 100 or 1000 micrograms per day for 70 days to adult male rhesus monkeys. Spermatozoa, collected by electroejaculation on days 21, 41 and 71 of treatment, were processed for spermiogram and Transmission Electron Microscopy. DHT, at all doses increased the number of spermatozoa showing coiled tails and the degree of coiling as well as ultrastructural changes. In the 10 micrograms group, on day 20 of treatment coiling of sperm tail was seen while 100 micrograms DHT induced additional changes like displacement of midpiece, loosening of plasma membrane over head region and increase in electron density of acrosomal region. Similar changes were seen only on day 40 in animals treated with 100 micrograms DHT. By day 40 - 70 of treatment, spermiophagy by macrophages was seen in all groups.