Changes of dopamine D2, alpha1 adrenergic receptor expressions and developmental stages of seminiferous tubule in rat testis after methamphetamine administration: A preliminary study

• Main Authors: Samur Thanoi, Siriporn Janphet, Sutisa Nudmamud-Thanoi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University 2020-08-01
• Series: Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST)
• Subjects: methamphetamine; dopamine d2 receptor; adrenergic receptor; spermatogenesis; seminiferous epithelium
• Online Access: https://rdo.psu.ac.th/sjstweb/journal/42-4/28.pdf

The alterations of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) and α1 adrenergic receptor (α1AR) expressions and developmental stages of seminiferous tubule were investigated in twenty-two male rats that underwent one of three Methamphetamine (METH) treatment regimes: acute binge (AB), escalating dose (ED) or escalating binge dose (ED-binge), in comparison with the control. The percentages of stage II seminiferous tubule were significantly decreased in ED and ED-binge groups. Reductions of D2R immunoreactivity in spermatocytes were found in all METH treated groups, while D2R reductions in elongated spermatids were found in ED and ED-binge groups. The expressions of α1AR in spermatocytes were increased in all METH treated groups as well as in round and elongated spermatids in ED and ED-binge groups. The results indicate that METH can cause changes in D2R and α1AR expressions in the testis of METH-addicted rats, which may disrupt DA and NE functions leading to changes of seminiferous epithelium development and consequently spermatogenesis impairment.