Effects of subchronic samarium exposure on the histopathological structure and apoptosis regulation in mouse testis

Highlights • Ninety days of subchronic exposure to samarium nitrate for mouse is performed for male reproductive toxicity evaluation. • Lesions in testis including disorganized seminiferous tubule, decreased spermatogenic cells, and so on are observed. • The lesions inside the cells involve mitochondria swelling, mitochondria vacuolization, fuzzy nuclear membrane, and so on. • Increased spermatogenic cell apoptosis is confirmed with TUNEL method, as well as changed expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 gene.