Short-Period Influence of Chronic Morphine Exposure on Serum Levels of Sexual Hormones and Spermatogenesis in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Increased rates of addiction and its broad societal complications are well known. One of the most important systems that may malfunction in drug abusers is the reproductive system, and evaluating patients for this potential risk may lead to increased awareness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty 60-day-old male rats were divided into control and target groups. The target group underwent 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal injections of morphine twice a day while the control group underwent normal saline injections (at the same dosage). After 60 days, the rats were anesthetized, and after blood sampling, they underwent bilateral orchiepididymectomy. Histological and hormonal evaluations were performed on the samples. RESULTS: Levels of sex hormonal features and spermatogenesis were significantly reduced in the target group compared to the control group. LH levels showed a meaningful decrease in the target group, but FSH and testosterone levels did not. On histological section analysis, mature sperm were meaningfully decreased in the target group. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic use of opioids may lead to alterations in sexual features and sexual hormones. Therefore, opioids have the potential to cause infertility. These changes may result from the effect of the drugs on the hypophysis or hypothalamus, the direct effect of the drugs on the seminiferous tubules, or a combination of both. The findings suggest that public awareness about addiction may cause decreased infertility rates.

Effect of cigarette smoke on spermatogenesis in rats.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the process of spermatogenesis in rats exposed to the cigarette smoke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adult male rats were divided into 2 groups of cases and controls. An apparatus made especially for this study was used to produce smoke from a commonly used cigarette and expose the rats to the smoke. The rats in the case group were exposed to the cigarette smoke for 10 weeks (90 minutes every day for 6 days in each week). The rats in the control group were meanwhile in the fresh room air. RESULTS: Development of the sperms was mildly reduced in 14 (93.3%) and 4 (26.7%) rats in the case and control groups, respectively (P < .001). The mean average diameter of the seminiferous tubules was reported to be 0.421 +/- 0.097 mm and 0.493 +/- 0.026 mm in the case and control groups, respectively (P = .04). The mean numbers of Sertoli cells were 9.2 +/- 1.2 and 13.3 +/- 1.8 in the case and control groups, respectively (P < .001). A concurrent reduction in the number of germ cells and Leydig cells with the decrease in the number of Sertoli cells was seen in the rats of the case group. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoke has a rather obvious effect on spermatogenesis in rats which may be due to toxic substances in the cigarette or the histologic reactions due to hypoxemia induced by smoke. Although further documentation, especially in humans is required, the potential impact of smoking on fertility in men should be considered in public health education.

Treatment of renal colic using intracutaneous injection of sterile water.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the intracutaneous injection of sterile water in the treatment of renal colic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with renal colic were randomly divided into two groups of 50 patients and underwent the treatment. In the first (study) group 0.5 ml of sterile water and in the control group, 0.5 ml of normal saline was intradermally injected. The severity of pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) system before and 30 and 90 minutes after the injection. Patients in whom the presence of stone was not proved were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Before the treatment mean pain severity in the study group was 9.860.4 and in the control group was 9.960.19, so that the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.12). Thirty and 90 minutes after the injection, the means were 0.762.3 and 1.022.63 in study group and 5.944 and 6.74.19 in control group, respectively. The results in 30 and 90 minutes between the two groups were statistically significant (p=0.000 and p=0.000, respectively). Pain in all patients in the study group was relieved; however, only %34 of the patients in the control group reported a decrease in pain. There was no complication among the patients of both groups and only a severe and transient pain during injection was reported by the patients. CONCLUSION: This study along with many other existing studies indicates the efficacy of intradermal injection of sterile water for the treatment of severe pain syndromes such as renal colic. The advantages of this method are its efficacy, availability, cost benefits, and easy application. We recommend the use of this approach for the treatment of renal colic.