Effect of prenatal treatment with D-amphetamine on the testis of male adult rat

PIETROBON, E.O.; SANCHEZ MB; MITCHEL MC; ROSALES JA; GOMEZ S; VALDEZ SR; BREGONZIO, C.; MONCLUS, M.A. ; SOAJE M.

Mendoza

Congreso; XL Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2022

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Prenatal amphetamine exposure (PEA) induces long-lasting changes that are evident even in adulthood. D-amphetamine (AMPH) is a stimulant of CNS, it reverses the action of monoamine transporters, blocks the reuptake and degradation of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) increasing their availability. Evidence indicates that DA and NA participate in the regulation of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons during development and migration. Also, it has been demonstrated that the intake of AMPH derivatives in adulthood alters the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, producing low levels of testosterone and poor sperm quality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of prenatal AMPH exposure on testis during adulthood, particularly on the development of the seminiferous epithelium structure. Female rats were treated daily with AMPH 2.5mg/kg i.p or saline (SAL) during days 15 to 21 of pregnancy. On days post-natal 75-90, adult PEA and SAL treated male rats, were sacrificed by decapitation and the testis and epididymides were surgically removed and weighed. Blood samples were obtained for testosterone determination by chemiluminescence method. Testes were fixed for the histological analysis and the epididymides were sectioned and incubated in PBS at 37°C for the release and posterior sperm count. Next, they were prepared in HM (no capacitating medium) and HMB (capacitating medium) for the later analysis of the acrosomal reaction. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Student´s-t test. No difference in weight testes was observed in PEA rats compared with SAL treated rats. Serum testosterone levels diminished significantly in PEA rats (p