relation of opium addiction and reproductive toxicity in male rats: a histological and hormonal study

Consuming of opium is a new phenomenon that could be significantly observed in some regions of Iraqi Kurdistan region, especially in districts near to Iran borders. Long term consumption of opioids affects body homeostasis. This study is designed to determine the effects of opium on reproductive histological and hormonal parameters in addition to the study of qualitative sperm abnormalities in experimental rats. The rats of the experiment were divided into three groups: Control group and the two experimental groups which were treated with two different concentrations of opium [25 and 50 mg/kg/day] for 7 days. After the decided period, the rats were dissected. Serum testosterone and sperm quality was determined and histological sections were prepared from the testis. Testosterone significantly reduced in opium treated rats in both low and high doses. The histological sections of testis showed testicular degeneration in the seminiferous tubules, while higher dose showed loss of normal architecture of seminiferous tubules, in addition to present of giant cell in lumen of tubules. Several types of sperm abnormalities were observed, but the head-neck connection abnormality was the dominant. This finding suggests that opium addiction can cause significant decrease in the male sexual hormone secretion and it also leads to the alteration in the sperms and testis structure. This may lead to sexual suppression and infertility which needs further investigations

Recovery duration and adrenal activity in addicted and non-addicted patients

Opiates and other related materials may inhibit the physiologic secretion of adrenocorticotropin. The aim of the present study is to determine the association between the cortisol level and adrenal insufficiency in addicted patients. For this clinical trial, 100 patients who had elective abdominal surgery or inguinal hernial repairs were selected randomly. They were distributed in two groups: opium addicts [cases], and non-addicts [controls]. One day before surgery cortisol was measured by radio immunoassay [RIA].Of 50 addicted patients, 17 revealed to have lower than normal cortisol levels whereas 5 had higher levels. There exists a non-significant association between the cortisol level and duration of addiction, and also cortisol level and the degree of dependency. Cortisol levels were within normal range in all controls. Post-anesthetic complications and withdrawal syndrome, especially pain and shivering in recovery room, were more obvious among addicted patients as compared to controls and the difference was statistically significant. [P < 0.0001] The duration of recovery was much shorter among addicted patients as compared to the controls, [p < 0.00001]. Addicts should be considered as high risk patients for elective surgery. Adrenal insufficiency and post-anesthetic complications deserve special attention in this group