• Histopathological effects of Acesulfame Potassium on male rat gonads
  • Razieh Zereshki,1,* Ali Noori,2
    1. Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran.
    2. Department of Biology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.


  • Introduction: Todays, there is an increasingly rapid rate of some diseases such as diabetes. Therefore, some Sugar substitute like Acesulfame Potassium is more popular than ever. This study investigated the effect of this Sugar substitute during pregnancy and life time on spermatogenesis.
  • Methods: In the present study, groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were intraperitoneally injected with Acesulfame Potassium doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg bw/d during pregnancy, respectively. The control group received 0.5 ml of normal saline. After the lactation period, male newborn rats in each group were separated from their mothers and divided into two groups: (1) treated group and (2) untreated group. In the treated group, the rats were received intraperitoneal injections of ace K (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg / kg mg/kg bw/d) and the untreated group was kept without any injections until puberty period. The control group received 0.5 ml of normal saline. After anesthesia, the testis was removed and fixed in formalin, the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue sections were prepared and counted under a light microscope and the morphology of spermatogonium, spermatocytes and spermatids in 10 fields in slide was carefully examined. The offspring body weights in both groups were also examined.
  • Results: The number of spermatogonium, spermatocyte and spermatid showed no significant differences between the different groups and in comparison with the control group. Neonatal weight gain up to puberty was significantly higher in the "treated group" in the 50, 200mg doses.
  • Conclusion: This study showed there is no threat for spermatogenesis with consumption of Acesulfame-K during pregnancy and life time.
  • Keywords: Acesulfame Potassium; Spermatogenesis; Male rat gonads; spermatogonium,