Evaluation of histopathologic and histomorphometric changes of testicular tissue and gonadotropin levels following consumption of methylphenidate in male mice.

BACKGROUND/AIM: One of the most common psychiatric disorders in children is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which is treated extensively by methylphenidate. This study investigates the assessment of the effects of methylphenidate on histopathologic and histomorphometric changes of the testes and serum levels of gonadotropin in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 36 adult male mice were used. After determining their body weights, the animals were divided randomly into 2 experimental groups and 1 control group. The experimental groups received methylphenidate (2 and 10 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) via gavage for a period of 40 days. After evaluation of body weight, general anesthesia was used for taking blood samples from the heart in order to measure testosterone and levels of gonadotropin in serum. For the purpose of weighing the bodies and measuring the thickness of the germinal epithelium, the testes were removed and the possibility of any pathological changes was considered. RESULTS: The results showed that methylphenidate could decrease the thickness of the germinal epithelium and body weight significantly, and could increase the levels of spermatogonia and serum gonadotropins and testosterone. Histopathological changes were also seen for vascular dilatation and congestion in interstitial tissue. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that administration of methylphenidate in adulthood may have an effect on spermatogenesis due to the influence of gonadotropin hormones on testis function.

Histopathological evaluation of chronic gastritis with and without Helicobacter pylori colonization: a study from Iran.

Chronic gastritis is defined as the presence of chronic mucosal inflammatory changes leading eventually to mucosal atrophy and epithelial metaplasia. It is notable for distinct causal subgroups and for patterns of histological alterations that vary in different parts of the world. By far the most important aetiological association is chronic infection by the bacillus Helicobacter pylori (Hp). The organism is a worldwide pathogen that has the highest infection rates in developing countries including Iran. In this study, samples confirmed for the diagnosis of chronic gastritis from 100 Hp-positive and 36 Hp-negative patients, were reevaluated histopathologically to determine the severity of inflammation, the presence of active gastritis, lymphoid follicle(s), glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Seventy-five percent of the samples showed mild inflammation, whilst moderate and severe inflammation was seen respectively in 24% and about 1% of the cases. Among the evaluated variables, only activity and intestinal metaplasia had statistically significant associations with Hp (p < 0.05) in this survey.