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Light and electron microscopic study on the effect of antischizophrenic drugs on the structure of seminiferous tubules of adult male albino rats
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Abstract
Introduction. Sexual dysfunction and infertility are symptoms which have been rarely studied in patients treated with antischizophrenic drugs, aripiprazole and olanzapine, for long period. This work aimed to investigate the effects of aripiprazole and olanzapine on the structure of seminiferous tubules of rats at both light microscopic and ultrastructural levels.
Material and methods. Sixty adult male rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 20): control group (Group I) and two experimental ones (II and III). Rats in Group II received 2 mg/kg/day aripiprazole while rats in Group III received 0.5 mg/kg/day olanzapine for 14 weeks. Thereafter, testis were removed and processed for both light and electron microscopic study. Qualitative morphological analyses and histomorphometric measurements of seminiferous tubules were performed.
Results. Rats in Group II showed reduction of testicular weight, seminiferous tubules’ diameter, epithelial height, spermatogenic count, spermatogenic index and spermatogenic score whereas Sertoli cells count was increased. Olanzapine-treated rats also showed epithelial desquamation, separation and apoptotic changes of germ cells. Sertoli cells showed vacuolization, dilatation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and accumulation of lipid droplets. Abnormality in the shape and structure of late spermatids and presence of giant cells were also demonstrated. Aripiprazole induced less adverse histological changes in rat testis than olanzapine.
Conclusions. Olanzapine followed by aripiprazole had adverse histological effects on the structure of the seminiferous tubules, which may affect spermatogenesis.
Abstract
Introduction. Sexual dysfunction and infertility are symptoms which have been rarely studied in patients treated with antischizophrenic drugs, aripiprazole and olanzapine, for long period. This work aimed to investigate the effects of aripiprazole and olanzapine on the structure of seminiferous tubules of rats at both light microscopic and ultrastructural levels.
Material and methods. Sixty adult male rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 20): control group (Group I) and two experimental ones (II and III). Rats in Group II received 2 mg/kg/day aripiprazole while rats in Group III received 0.5 mg/kg/day olanzapine for 14 weeks. Thereafter, testis were removed and processed for both light and electron microscopic study. Qualitative morphological analyses and histomorphometric measurements of seminiferous tubules were performed.
Results. Rats in Group II showed reduction of testicular weight, seminiferous tubules’ diameter, epithelial height, spermatogenic count, spermatogenic index and spermatogenic score whereas Sertoli cells count was increased. Olanzapine-treated rats also showed epithelial desquamation, separation and apoptotic changes of germ cells. Sertoli cells showed vacuolization, dilatation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and accumulation of lipid droplets. Abnormality in the shape and structure of late spermatids and presence of giant cells were also demonstrated. Aripiprazole induced less adverse histological changes in rat testis than olanzapine.
Conclusions. Olanzapine followed by aripiprazole had adverse histological effects on the structure of the seminiferous tubules, which may affect spermatogenesis.
Keywords
olanzapine; aripiprazole; rat; testis; ultrastructure; morphometry; spermatogenesis
About this articleTitle
Light and electron microscopic study on the effect of antischizophrenic drugs on the structure of seminiferous tubules of adult male albino rats
Journal
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
335-349
Published online
2014-12-23
Page views
2043
Article views/downloads
2710
DOI
10.5603/FHC.a2014.0038
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2014;52(4):335-349.
Keywords
olanzapine
aripiprazole
rat
testis
ultrastructure
morphometry
spermatogenesis
Authors
Hala M. Soliman
Heba M. Wagih
Ghalia M. Attia
Sami A. Algaidi
