Alterations in developing testis of albino rats induced by flunitrazepam

ABSTRACT

The use of flunitrazepam [Rohypnol], which is known in Egyptian street as Abou-Saliba, is markedly increased. So, the present study was designed to investigate its effect on the developing testes. The male off-springs of 16 pregnant rats were used. The pregnant rats were divided equally into 4 groups. The off-springs of the 1st group were used as a control. The 2nd group was the group of treated off-springs of treated mothers. The pregnant rats of this group received a single oral daily therapeutic dose 0.036 mg of flunitrazepam for the whole period of gestation up to the first ten days after delivery. Then their off-springs received a single oral daily therapeutic dose 0.0036 mg of flunitrazepam from the 10th day of postnatal life up to the 30th day. The 3rd group was the group of treated off-springs of non treated mothers. The pregnant females of this group did not receive any treatment, while their off-springs were treated similar to those of the 2nd group. The 4th group was the group of non-treated offsprings of treated mothers. The pregnant rats of this group were treated similar to those of the 2nd group, while their offsprings of this group did not receive any treatment. The testes were collected from the offsprings of all groups at day 30 of postnatal life. The specimens of all groups were prepared for light microscopic examination and the specimens of the 1st and the 2nd groups were also prepared for electron microscopic examination. Flunitrazepam induced delay spermatogenesis in all treated groups as evidenced by the small size of the seminiferous tubules which did not develop central lumena, the seminiferous cells were arranged in 3-4 rows only, the nearly absence of early spermatids and the delay differentiation of supporting cells into Sertoli cells. Flunitrazepam also induced prominent histopathological effects. These effects were severe in the testis of the 2nd group where the seminiferous cells of many tubules were deeply stained, could not be recognized and many of them were degenerated. However, the seminiferous cells of the 3rd group were moderately affected, while those of the 4th group were slightly affected. The interstitial cells of Leydig were markedly affected in all treated groups. They became singly scattered between the seminiferous tubules of the 2nd and 3rd groups or appeared as small collections in the 4th group. The ultrastructural examination of the testis of the 2nd group confirmed the previous effects and revealed that A and B spermatogonia were slightly affected, supporting cells were numerous and moderately affected, while the primary spermatocytes and the interstitial cells of Leydig were the most affected cells