Effect of flutamide on the physiological status of epididymis and epididymal sperms

Abstract

Flutamide, a pure antiandrogen, increases the levels of plasma luteinizing hormone but antagonizes the biological expression of androgen on target organs. Flutamide was administered to rats to study the effect of altered availability of hormones on the functional status of epididymis. The weights of ventral prostate, seminal vesicles and epididymis showed antiandrogenic effects of flutamide. However, increased activity of kidney P-glucuronidase reflected increased availability of testosterone. The concentrations of protein and DNA along with the activities of acid phosphatase and hyaluronidase decreased in flutamide-treated rats. The activities of acid phosphatase and hyaluronidase in epididymal sperms along with protein concentration increased in flutamide-treated rats. Alteration of epididymal function by treatments affecting lyso-soma1 stability was indicated.undertaken to evaluate the effects of altered availability of hormones on the physiology of epididymis and epididymal sperms.

Suppression of fertility by Capparis spinosa root extract through antioxidant alteration in reproductive system of male rats

“…Sialic acid acts as a "lubricant" to facilitate the downward movement of sperm and reduce friction among spermatozoa [31] . Mukherjee et al [32] studied the effect of flutamide on testes and accessory organs of male rats and also found a reduction in sialic acid contents. Cholesterol is involved in steroidogenesis in testes.…”

“…Depletion in testicular glycogen was possibly attributed to the decreased number of post-meiotic germ cells. A reduction in fructose concentration in the seminal vesicle might be the result of a decreased secretory activity [31,32] . Depletion in the number of spermatids, preleptotene, and pachytene spermatocytes may affect the androgen binding protein of Sertoli cells via its action in FSH with subsequent interference in sperm maturation and release due to oxidative stress [33] .…”

“…Depletion in the number of spermatids, preleptotene, and pachytene spermatocytes may affect the androgen binding protein of Sertoli cells via its action in FSH with subsequent interference in sperm maturation and release due to oxidative stress [33] . Differentiation of primordial germ cells into spermatogonia and the consequent appearance of spermatogenic cycles are under the control of gonadotropins and testosterone, such control being possibly mediated by Sertoli cells which regulate cell cycle kinetics and influence both spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes [32,33] . Shrunken Sertoli cells in Capparis spinosa treated rat testes could be compared with cryptorchidism-like activity [34] .…”

Impairment on sperm quality and fertility of adult rats after antiandrogen exposure during prepuberty

“…We elected to attempt to alter the differentiation of the epididymis with flutamide, a potent non-steroidal antiandrogen [9] that competes for the androgen receptor and is capable of reducing the physiological action of testosterone on target tissues when endogenous tissue levels of androgen are submaximal [10,11]. Between PND 21 and 44 androgen levels in the epididymis are on the rise, but far less than adult levels [8].…”

Morfofisiologia do sistema genital masculino de ratos púberes e adultos após privação androgênica durante a pré-puberdade

“…The present study was undertaken to interfere with the prepubertal period of differentiation in order to understand the possible adverse effects on sperm quantity and quality at adulthood. We elected to attempt to alter the differentiation of the epididymis with flutamide, a potent non-steroidal antiandrogen [9] that competes for the androgen receptor and is capable of reducing the physiological action of testosterone on target tissues when endogenous tissue levels of androgen are submaximal [10,11]. Between PND21 and 44 androgen levels in the epididymis are on the rise, but far less than adult levels [8].…”