Histopathological and Morphometric Evaluation in the Testis and Epididymis of Adult Rats Submitted To A Recovery Period after Treatment with Anabolic Steroid, Alcohol and/or Nicotine

Abstract

Objective: Frequently, reproductive toxic substances such as androgenic anabolic steroids, alcohol and nicotine are used in association by adolescents and adults, in an indiscriminate manner. This study investigated the testicular and epididymal tissue of adult rats submitted to a recovery period after treatment with anabolic steroid, alcohol and /or nicotine. Materials and Methods: The animals (n=42) were divided into three control groups simulating the drugs administration routes (CI: distilled water, oral; CII: saline solution, subcutaneous; CIII: water and saline solution) and groups treated with a testosterone esters mixture (T: 7.5 mg/kg body weight-b.w., subcutaneous), alcohol (AL: 3.5 g/kg b.w. of ethanol 25%, oral), nicotine (N: 2.0 mg/kg b.w., subcutaneous), and co-administration of these three substances (T/AL/N). After 15 consecutive days of treatment (once a day), the animals were kept for 30 days in recovery. At the end of this period, the testes and epididymides were collected, weighed and processed for histological and morphometric analysis by light microscope. Results: All groups treated with toxic substances presented histopathological changes in testes and epididymis after the recovery period. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in testicular weight and in the morphometric parameters of the testis and epididymis in T and T/AL/N groups. Conclusion: The testis and epididymis of rats treated with anabolic steroid, alcohol and/or nicotine exhibited histopathological changes after a recovery period and the damages were more evident in the groups receiving the anabolic steroid alone or co-administered with other drugs.

Protective effect of silymarin on the testes of rats treated with anabolic androgenic steroid: A biochemical, histological, histochemical and immunohistochemichal study

“…In their study, Mutalip et al [27] reported significant decreases in the testes absolute weight in two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats, one injected with testosterone and the other with an anabolic steroids for six weeks. Also, De Souza [28] reported similar results in Wistar rats that were treated with testosterone esters mixture.…”

Sex steroid receptors profiling is influenced by nandrolone decanoate in the ampulla of the fallopian tube: Post-treatment and post-recovery analyses

“…The same result was previously reported in the ovarian medulla (Simão et al, 2015), considering both PT and PR periods. In another study (Souza et al, 2017), a mixture of testosterone esters administered at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg for 15 days promoted vascular congestion, vasodilation, and interstitial hemorrhage in the testes of Table 2 Immunostaining of sex steroid receptors in the ampulla of the fallopian tube in the different experimental groups, after treatment and recovery periods.…”

Histological Effects of Different Doses of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (Sustanon®250) on Testis of Male albino Rats

“…This agreed with Singh et al, (2013) who observed that slight deterioration in testes weight following exposure of AAS in all treatment groups is a form of normal effect that would have been expected. Souza et al, (2017) reported that synthetic androgens cause a reduction in the area and diameter of the seminiferous tubules, so it causes the reduction of the testis weight.…”