Histopathological and morphometric evaluation in the testis and epididymis of adult rats submitted to a recovery period after treatment with anabolic steroid, alcohol, and/or nicotine

Abstract

Bianca Ribeiro de Souza, Lucas Solla Mathias, Talita Iara Máximo de Souza, Isabel Cristina Cherici Camargo

Objective: Frequently, reproductive toxic substances such as androgenic anabolic steroids, alcohol and nicotine are used in association by adolescents and adults, in an indiscriminate manner. This study investigated the testicular and epididymal tissue of adult rats submitted to a recovery period after treatment with anabolic steroid, alcohol and /or nicotine. Materials and Methods: The animals (n=42) were divided into three control groups simulating the drugs administration routes (CI: distilled water, oral; CII: saline solution, subcutaneous; CIII: water and saline solution) and groups treated with a testosterone esters mixture (T: 7.5 mg/kg body weight - b.w., subcutaneous), alcohol (AL: 3.5 g/kg b.w. of ethanol 25%, oral), nicotine (N: 2.0 mg/kg b.w., subcutaneous), and co-administration of these three substances (T/AL/N). After 15 consecutive days of treatment (once a day), the animals were kept for 30 days in recovery. At the end of this period, the testes and epididymides were collected, weighed and processed for histological and morphometric analysis by light microscope. Results: All groups treated with toxic substances presented histopathological changes in testes and epididymis after the recovery period. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in testicular weight and in the morphometric parameters of the testis and epididymis in T and T/AL/N groups. Conclusion: The testis and epididymis of rats treated with anabolic steroid, alcohol and/or nicotine exhibited histopathological changes after a recovery period and the damages were more evident in the groups receiving the anabolic steroid alone or co-administered with other drugs.