Spermatogenic Alterations in the Ground Beetle Trachyderma hispida (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Induced by Ceramic Industrial Pollution

A coleopteran insect, Trachyderma hispida, was collected from the proximity of ceramic factories in Khorshed district, Alexandria, Egypt, to elucidate the testicular damage elicited by heavy metal pollution. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals was estimated by using X-ray microanalysis. Histological and ultrastructure examination revealed various changes in germ cells in insects collected from the polluted region. The inducible histological alterations included: occlusion and collapsed follicles, disrupted cyst wall and necrotic Spermatogenic elements. Ultrastructure changes implied abnormal chromatin condensation, ill-defined nuclear membrane, vacuolated cytoplasm, disintegrated nebenkern, deterioration of mitochondrial derivatives and degeneration of axonemes. In addition, agglutinated spermatids, and sperms with a double tail were noticed. The most noteworthy feature in spermatogonia and spermatocyte was the infra-tubular inclusion bodies. Histological and electron micrographs pointed out the structure of the parietal cell which functioned as a Sertoli cell. Adverse damage to these cells by ceramic pollution was reported. In conclusion, by using insects as bioindicators, ceramic production may impair reproduction.