New research has raised concerns about the potential impact of vaping on testicle size and sperm count, using rats as test subjects.
Turkish scientists conducted the study due to the anatomical and genetic similarities between rats and humans, aiming to shed light on potential risks associated with vaping.
The study, published in the Spanish medical journal Revista Internacional de Andrología, examined the testicle size and sperm counts of rats before and after exposure to cigarette smoke and e-cigarette vapors.
The results showed that the average rat had around 98.5 million sperm per millilitre before exposure.
The rats were divided into three groups: one exposed to cigarette smoke from the Winston brand, another to e-cigarette vapours from a Joyetech eGo Aio 1500 mAh vape and a control group with no exposure. They were exposed to smoke or vapour twice a day for an hour each time in specially-designed bell jars.
The findings indicated that the sperm count dropped to approximately 95.1 million when exposed to e-cigarette vapor and 89 million when exposed to traditional cigarette smoke. Rats exposed to cigarette smoke also had smaller testes compared to the e-cigarette and control groups.
The most severe cases among the rats exposed to smoke or vapour exhibited issues such as stopped germ cell separation, cavity formation, necrosis, fibrosis and atrophy in their testes.
The study concluded that “EC liquid… could increase oxidative stress and cause morphological changes in the testicle” and suggested the need for further research to understand the implications on sperm parameters post-exposure.
While the research offers insight into potential risks, it’s important to note that the study was conducted on rats and further research involving humans is necessary to draw direct correlations between vaping and its effects on the male genital system.
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