Impacts of morphine addiction on spermatogenesis in rats

Background: There are numerous investigations on wide range of issues that disrupt regulatory spermatogenesis, individuals who are exposed to drug abuse faced infertility and immature spermatogenesis

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the addiction effects of morphine and its derivatives on rats spermatogenesis

Materials and Methods: 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups, which were exposed either with intravenous morphine, naloxone, naloxone and morphine, sham [with normal saline injection] and a control group without infusion. Spermatogenesis was assessed after three months via histological sections with hematoxylin and eosin staining, using a light microscope based on measurement of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid, and spermatozoa

Results: Those rats that received opioids had changes in spermatogenesis function. The population of spermatogenesis cycle cells at spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid, and spermatozoa stages was significantly decreased in those rats that received opioid in comparison to the control group [p<0.05]. Histological studies revealed that changes in different groups of opioid application might affect sperm formation. Sperm count in morphine group was [0+/-0] and in naloxone group, naloxone+morphine, sham and control were 235+/-3.77, 220+/-3.81, 247.12+/-6.10 and 250+/-6.54, respectively [p<0.001]

Conclusion: Morphine could affect all spermatogenesis stages

[Respiratory and blood responses following intratracheal instillation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in rabbits]

Nowadays, nanomaterials are used in daily life extensively. One of the most common of these materials is nano titanium dioxide [TiO[2]] which is used to purify the air and also sunscreens, shampoos and other hygienic products. Although nanoparticles are useful, can also have potential hazards. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of TiO[2] on lung tissue in rabbits. We divided 18 male rabbits into three groups randomly. The first group received 50 microl of TiO[2] with dose of 50 mg/kg by intratracheal instillation. The second group received 50 microl of TiO[2] with dose of 100 mg/kg and the third group received 50 microl of normal saline by the same route. Chest X-rays were taken from all rabbits before injection and on days of 10, 17 and 24 after injection. Twenty four days after injection, rabbits anesthetized and histopathological assays, blood samples and biochemical factors were evaluated. Radiographic assays showed a progressive pulmonary fibrosis in rabbits received TiO[2] rather than the control group and this lesion developed to maximum at 24[th] day of the experiment. We also showed pulmonary emphysema and inflammation in histopathologycal study of groups treated with TiO[2]. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in the amount of liver enzymes, white blood cells and hematocrit in TiO[2] treated groups compared to control group [P 0.05]. Results showed that nanotitanium dioxide particles can lead to pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation and also increasing liver enzymes and inflammatory cells

[Effects of diazoxide on rat isolated atria]

It is generally accepted that the selective adenosine triphosphatedependent potassium channel openers [K[ATP] openers] have a dramatic role in the treatment of some cardiovascular disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diazoxide, a potent ATP-related potassium channel opener, on spontaneously beating isolated rat atria to achieve more accurate approaches to treat cardiovascular diseases, such as atrial related disorders including atrial arrhythmias. After induction of anesthesia, we exsected the heart and isolated the atria of 48 male Wistar rats. Later, we recorded the beating and contractile force of the atria by a physiograph. Subsequently, we studied the effects of diazoxide [2 to 100 micro g/mL] on beating and contractile force of the isolated atria 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after applying the drug onto the atria. Diazoxide administration [2 to 100 micro g/mL] showed a significant decrease [7% to 49% depending on concentration] in atrial beatings [P

Effects of lithium on peripheral neuropathy induced by vincristine in rats

Vincristine [VCR] as a frequently used antimitotic agent which is commonly prescribed for wide spectrum of neoplasm, causes mixed sensorimotor neuropathy. Several evidences show lithium could be a neuroprotective agent, therefore to assess whether a pretreatment and at subtherapeutic dose it could prevent the peripheral neuropathy produced by VCR, rats were treated with VCR 0.1mg/kg i.p. for 3 alternative doses and / or lithium chloride [20mg/kg or 40 mg/kg i.p. daily from the first day to the day of sacrifice]. Erythrocyte lithium concentration [ELC] and plasma lithium concentration [PLC] were measured at the seventh day of study and the day of scarification. After seventh day of lithium administration, PLC and ELC reached to a steady state at subtherapeutic dose and they did not significantly change at normal housing situation. Hot plate, open field test and nerve conduction velocity were used to evaluate the sensory and motor neuropathy. Only VCR treated rats showed behavioral, electrophysiological and histological evidences of a mixed sensorimotor neuropathy by significant increase in hot plate latencies and a marked decrease in total distance moved and conduction velocities in both sensory and motor nerves. Lithium at the dose of 20mg/kg and specially 40mg/kg robustly reduced the rate of mortality, general toxicity and was able to ameliorate mixed sensorimotor neuropathy induced by VCR. These results suggest that lithium at dose of 20mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, potentially by its effects on cell survival pathways such as inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 [GSK3beta], can prevent both motor and sensory components of VCR neuropathy

[Teratogenic effects of caffeine and clomipramine on rat fetus]

Obsessive-compulsive disorders and depression have a high prevalence during pregnancy; therefore, pregnant women may take clomipramine and also take other drugs or consume foods that contain caffeine. As investigations about the teratogenic effects of clomipramine and its concurrent administration with caffeine during organogenesis period are scarce, we aimed to study the teratogenicity of simultaneous administration of clomipramine and caffeine in rat fetus. After dividing 42 pregnant rats to several case and control groups, we injected different doses of caffeine and clomipramine to the animals. All the injections were performed on the eighth until the 15th day of pregnancy. We removed the fetuses on the 17th day of pregnancy and studied the morphological features and apparent anomalies of the fetuses macroscopically. We found a significant rate of mortality, apparent anomalies, abnormal torsion, shrinkage of skin and subcutaneous bleeding in fetuses of rats receiving high doses of caffeine or a combination of caffeine and clomipramine. Statistical analysis of the data revealed a significant increase [P

[Plasma zinc levels in normotensive and hypertensive adults: a comparative study in Tehran heart center]

There are conflicting reports about zinc, a trace element, in the pathogenesis of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of zinc in high blood pressure. We conducted this study on 80 patients with primary [idiopathic] hypertension and 80 normotensive people with similar age who attended to Tehran Heart Center between 2007 and 2008. We examined the effect of zinc concentration on blood pressure in both sexes in four age groups [41-50, 51-60, 61-70 and 71-80 years old]. We measured plasma zinc concentration by atomic absorption. The mean plasma zinc concentrations were 0.456 +/- 0.04 microg/ml and 0.551 +/- 0.055 microg/ml in patients with hypertension and in normotensive people, respectively, [P

effect of paroxetine on ouabain-induced toxicity in isolated guinea pig atria

It has been reported that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs] possess some cardiac effects. In the present study we have investigated the effect of paroxetine [PX], a potent SSRI agent, on spontaneously as well as ouabain-induced arrhythmia beating isolated guinea-pig atria. The Guinea-pig heart was rapidly removed; the auricles were dissected out in oxygenated modified Krebs solution. The rate and force of spontaneous contractions were recorded isometrically with a photosensitive transducer. PX [1-16 micro g/ml] caused a dose-dependent decrease in the rate of contractions [14-70%] and contractile force [8-16%]. Ouabain alone [1.2 micro g/ml] produced arrhythmia at 7.2 +/- 1.5 min and asystole at 20.1 +/- 3.1 min. Pretreatment with PX [4 micro g/ml] significantly increased the time of arrhythmia onset to 19.8 min. In addition, PX prolonged the duration of action beating from 20.1 +/- 3.1 min to 43.1 +/- 2.6 and delayed the occurrence of asystole. The pattern of contractile force by PX + ouabain treatment was more regular than that observed after administration of ouabain alone. The above findings may the probably be due to the inhibition of cardiac Na[+] and Ca[2+] channels or autonomic nervous system. Results also suggest that PX may reduce the membrane conductance through inhibition of ionic channels to prevent ouabain-induced arrhythmia