Abstract

To investigate the effects of repeated crack-cocaine inhalation on spermatogenesis of pubertal and mature Balb/c mice, ten young (Y(ex)) and ten adult (A(ex)) Balb/c mice were exposed to the smoke from 5 g of crack with 57.7% of pure cocaine in an inhalation chamber, 5 days/week for 2 months. The young (Y(c)) and adult (A(c)) control animals (n = 10) were kept in a specially built and controlled animal house facility. The morphologic analysis of both testes of all animals included the analysis of quantitative and qualitative histologic parameters to assess the effect of crack-cocaine on spermatogenesis and Leydig cells. Apoptosis was determined by immunolabeling with caspase-3 antibodies. Compared to the Y(c) animals, Y(ex) animals showed a significant reduction in the number of stage VII tubules per testis (p = 0.02), Sertoli cells (p < 0.001) and elongated spermatids (p = 0.001). Comparisons between the Y(ex) and A(ex) groups identified a significant reduction in the number of Sertoli cells (p < 0.001) and round spermatids (p < 0.001) in the Y(ex) group and a significant increase in apoptotic Leydig cells (p = 0.04) in the A(ex) group. The experimental results indicate that crack-cocaine smoke inhalation induced spermatogenesis disruption in chronically exposed mice, particularly in pubertal mice.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Pires A, Pieri P, Hage M, Santos AB, Medeiros MC, Garcia RC, Yonamine M, Hallak J, Saldiva PH, Zorzetto JC, Bueno HM

Institution

Reproductive Toxicology Unit, Experimental Air Pollution Laboratory, São Paulo University Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. adrianapiresbio@gmail.com

Source

Inhalation toxicology 24:7 2012 Jun pg 439-46

MeSH

Administration, Inhalation
Aging
Animals
Apoptosis
Crack Cocaine
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Smoke
Spermatogenesis
Testis

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22642293