World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
Published August 2, 2014 | Version 9999157
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Dexamethasone: Impact on Testicular Activity

Description

Dexamethasone (Dex) is a synthetic glucocorticoid
that is used in therapy. However prolonged treatments with high
doses are often required. This causes side effects that interfere with
the activity of several endocrine systems, including the gonadotropic
axis.
The aim of our study is to determine the effect of Dex on testicular
function in prepubertal Wistar rats.
Newborn Wistar rats are submitted to intraperitoneal injection of
Dex (1μg of Dex dissolved in NaCl 0.9% / 5g bw) for 20 days and
then sacrificed at the age of 40days. A control group received NaCl
0.9%. The rat is weighed daily. The plasmatic levels of testosterone,
LH and FSH were measured by radioimmunoassay. A histomorphometric
study was performed on sections of testis.
Treated groups showed a significant decrease in body weight (p <
0.05), testis weight (p < 0.05) and plasma levels of testosterone (p <
0.05), of LH (P < .05) and FSH (p> 0.05).
There is a reduction of seminiferous tubules average diameter and
also of the seminiferous epithelium thickness with an increasing of
lumen tubular. The diameter of the Leydig cells and Sertoli cell
nucleus is also significantly reduced. Spermatogenesis is blocked at
the stage round spermatid unlike witnesses or elongated spermatid
stage is found. These results suggest that Dex administered during
neonatal life influences testicular activity in the long term.

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