Light and electron microscopic study on the effect of antischizophrenic drugs on the structure of seminiferous tubules of adult male albino rats

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.

The effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on ghrelin expression in rat testis: biochemical and immunohistochemical study

“…Mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD) was measured in micrometers (Analysis LS Research Program). More than 20 seminiferous tubular sections per testis were used to determine mean tubular biopsy score (MTBS) in the range from 1 to 10 as described previously [20]. In each biopsy, 50-100 cross sections of seminiferous tubules were evaluated according to criteria presented in Table 1.…”

Recovery effect of pre-germinated brown rice on the alteration of sperm quality, testicular structure and androgen receptor expression in rat model of depression

“…The small amount of apparent abnormalities seen in the control samples is a common feature found in normal cells and tissue. While some may be an artefact of tissue collecting and processing, it has been suggested that some of these findings such as separation of germ cells, sloughing of germinal epithelium and vacuolisation could be considered as pre‐apoptotic signs (Soliman et al ., ).…”

Evaluation of the possible protective effect of alpha lipoic acid on testicular toxicity induced by polychlorinated biphenyl in adult albino rats: A histological study

“…[ 40 ] Also, collagen deposition might be due to increase its formation by the myoid cells or due to proteolysis rate reduction in the extracellular space. [ 41 ]…”