Fig. 4

Using histopathological analysis and scoring for identification of seminiferous tubule damage and expression of multinucleated giant cells by 72 h after IR procedure. A–E Illustrating the microscopic (× 200) of H&E stain for identification of histological feature (i.e., cross-section) of testis. The architectural feature of ST (red color) was remarkably destructed in TTIR groups as compared with the other groups. F The analytical result of the thickness of ST (red color of double arrows), * vs. other groups with different symbols (†, ‡, §), p < 0.0001. G Score of the severity of ST morphologic damage, * vs. other groups with different symbols (†, ‡, §), p < 0.0001. H Some multinucleated giant cells (green arrows) were clearly notably in IR animals than in sham-control animals; analytical result of number of multinucleated giant cells (i.e., germ cell degradation), * vs. other groups with different symbols (†, ‡, §), p < 0.0001. All statistical analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison post hoc test (n = 6 for each group). Symbols (*, †, ‡, §) indicate significance (at 0.05 level)