Changes of androgen receptor expression in stages VII-VIII seminiferous tubules of rat testis after exposure to methamphetamine

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) is toxic not only to the central nervous system but also to the reproductive system. This study aimed to investigate the effect of METH administration on androgen receptor (AR) expression in the seminiferous tubules (stages VII-VIII) and Leydig cells. 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 4 groups; control, acute doseMETH binge (AB-METH), escalating dose-METH (ED-METH) and escalating dose-METH binge (ED-METH binge) groups. The expressions of AR were examined using immunohistochemical staining. AR expressions in round and elongated spermatids showed significant decreases in ED-METH binge and AB-METH groups. In Leydig’s cells, AR expressions were significantly decreased in both ED-METH and ED-METH binge groups. These results could reflect the effect of METH on the expressions of AR in both round and elongated spermatids of stages VII-VIII seminiferous tubule and Leydig’s cells. Decreases of AR expressions in those cells of METH-treated animals may interrupt spermatogenesis at these stages.

Keywords

• methamphetamine
• seminiferous tubule
• androgen receptor
• spermatogenesis
• testis