Maternal treatment with fluoxetine promotes testicular alteration in male rat pups

Effects of clinical medications on male fertility and prospects for stem cell therapy

An increasing number of men require long-term drug therapy for various diseases. However, the effects of long-term drug therapy on male fertility are often not well evaluated in clinical practice. Meanwhile, the development of stem cell therapy and exosomes treatment methods may provide a new sight on treating male infertility. This article reviews the influence and mechanism of small molecule medications on male fertility, as well as progress of stem cell and exosomes therapy for male infertility with the purpose on providing suggestions (recommendations) for evaluating the effect of drugs on male fertility (both positive and negative effect on male fertility) in clinical application and providing strategies for diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

Paternal low-dose benzo(a)pyrene exposure in rats impairs sexual development and fertility of the paternal lineage in F2 generation: A transgenerational study

The field of Paternal Origins of Health and Disease (POHaD) is highly relevant but remains under-explored. The F2 generation from males indirectly exposed (F1 - via germ cells) to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), named PF2, was investigated in this study under parameters of sexual development and reproductive performance of male and female rats. Male Wistar rats (F0) were exposed to BaP (0.1µg/kg/day) for 31 consecutive days (gavage) during prepuberty. The F0 rats were mated with untreated females to produce male offspring (F1), which were exposed to BaP via germ cells. The F1 males were later mated with untreated females to obtain the PF2 generation, which was the focus of our investigation. Our findings showed that PF2 males exhibited a decrease in anogenital distance, fertility potential, testosterone levels, and type A sperm. Meanwhile, PF2 females had an earlier vaginal opening, lower lordosis scores, and decreased fertility. Furthermore, changes in the histomorphology of the testis/epididymis and ovary/uterus were observed. The repercussions of the PF2 generation indicate that these animals showed losses in both sexual development and fertility potential, and we can conclude that this damage remained due to paternal transgenerational inheritance caused by a low dose of BaP.

Lactational exposure to venlafaxine provokes late repercussions on reproductive parameters in male rat offspring

Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can affect hormone-dependent processes, such as the brain sexual differentiation. Because the use of these antidepressants cause concern during lactation, we evaluated the possible effects of venlafaxine on lactational exposure and its late repercussions on reproductive parameters in male rats. Lactating rats were exposed to venlafaxine (3.85, 7.7, or 15.4 mg/kg/body weight; gavage), from lactational day 1 to 20. Venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine residues were found in all milk samples of dams treated, demonstrating the lactational transfer of this antidepressant to the offspring. Although the maternal behavior was normal, the dams presented an increase in urea and uric acid levels in the groups treated with 7.7 and 15.4, respectively, as well as a spleen weight increased in the 3.85 and 15.4 groups. The male offspring showed a decrease in play behavior parameters in the intermediate dose group. Sperm analysis indicated a reduction in sperm motility in all treated groups. The androgen receptor expression in the hypothalamus was decreased in the highest dose group, although the sexual behavior had not been affected. In conclusion, venlafaxine was transferred through breast milk and promoted changes in play behavior, sperm quality, and hypothalamic androgen receptor (AR) content, which may indicate an incomplete masculinization of the brain of male offspring.

Is lactational sertraline exposure safe for maternal health and the reproductive/neurobehavioral development of the descendants? A study in rats

Although sertraline is considered one of the safest antidepressants in the lactation period, there are still few studies that assess its impact on child development. Therefore, this experimental study aimed to clarify the effect of sertraline on the neurobehavioral and reproductive development of male rats. Thus, 30 lactating rats were divided into 3 experimental groups (n = 10/group): CO- received filtered water, S10 and S20 groups that received, respectively, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day of sertraline. Treatment was performed by gavage, from postnatal days (PND) 1-20. During this period, the reflex and somatic development of rats were observed, as well as maternal behavior. On PND 21, mothers were euthanized and the organs were weighed. On PND 21, 45, and 100, one male from each litter was euthanized for histological and immunohistochemical (PCNA and WT1) analysis of the reproductive organs. The growth of body weight, the anogenital distance (AGD), the time to puberty, sperm quality, sexual behavior, neurobehavior, and natural fertility were also verified. Statistical analysis: One-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test (p ≤ 0.05). The results showed that mothers in the S20 group had an increase in thyroid weight. The male offspring exposed to sertraline had lower body weight (PND 7), lower AGD (PND 7 and 14), and delay in reflex development, in addition to histological alterations in the testis (PND 21). In adulthood, sperm quality was altered, without compromising natural fertility. Therefore, the present study found important alterations in the reflex and reproductive development of male rats exposed to sertraline during lactation.

Effect of fluoxetine on the testes of adult albino rats and the possible protective role of curcumin

Fluoxetine (FLX) is extensively used for the treatment of a diversity of psychiatric disorders, mainly depression. However, it can adversely affect male fertility. This study was done to clarify the changes which take place in the testes after the oral administration of FLX and to evaluate the possible preventative role of curcumin. Seventy-six adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Control group: kept without any treatment. Curcumin group: received daily dose of curcumin (150 mg/kg body weight) through oral gavage for 8 weeks. FLX group. They were given daily dose of FLX (10 mg/kg body weight) given through oral gavage for 8 weeks. FLX and curcumin group. They were given FLX together with curcumin with the same previous doses through oral gavage daily for 8 weeks. By the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for the biochemical study of testosterone. All the animals were anaesthetized by ether inhalation, and the testis specimens were dissected out and weighed. The specimens were subjected to histopathological, immunohistochemical, and morphometrical evaluation. FLX decreased serum testosterone, diminished both epithelial height and diameter of seminiferous tubules, increased collagen fiber deposition in testicular tissue and induced positive immune reaction to B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein. In the FLX and curcumin group, the FLX-induced changes were less remarkable. Exposure to FLX led to pronounced testicular alterations. Co-administration of curcumin with FLX ameliorated these changes.

The effects of exposure to fluoxetine during lactation on testicular tissue and sperm parameters in mice offspring

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is commonly prescribed to treat maternal depression in pregnancy and lactation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to fluoxetine via lactation on testicular tissue, sperm parameters including count, motility, viability, and normal morphology and testicular oxidative stress status in male mice offspring. Ten mice dams were divided into control and experimental groups. The control group received water and the experimental group received fluoxetine (20.00 mg kg^-1) by gavage daily from postnatal days of 0-21. Histology of testis, sperm parameters and oxidative stress in the testicular tissue were analyzed at 80 days after birth in their male offspring (n = 8). Significant reductions in the body and testes weights were observed in animals exposed to fluoxetine. Additionally, fluoxetine exposure significantly reduced all sperm parameters, tubular diameter and epithelial height of the seminiferous tubules as well as Leydig cells number. Significant increases in the testicular malondialdehyde levels and percentage of sperm with chromatin/DNA damage were observed in mice exposed to fluoxetine compared to control. These findings suggest that maternal exposure to fluoxetine during lactation in mice has a negative effect on the testicular tissue of their offspring and impairs the spermatogenesis process which in turn can induce infertility.

Maternal exposure to fluoxetine during gestation and lactation does not alter plasma concentrations of testosterone, oestrogen or corticosterone in peripubertal offspring

Antidepressants are widely used around the world, primarily for the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety and pain syndromes. Women who use antidepressants often continue to use them during pregnancy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including fluoxetine, are the main class of antidepressants prescribed to pregnant women. It is known that fluoxetine crosses the placental-blood barrier and is excreted in breast milk. Consequently, indirect exposure of the infant occurs. Knowing that fluoxetine alters the balance of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, several studies have shown that maternal exposure to this drug leads to various adverse effects on the nervous, reproductive and cardiovascular systems of the offspring. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to fluoxetine during gestation and lactation on parameters related to steroid hormones in prepubertal and pubertal male and female rats. The endpoints evaluated were date of puberty onset, plasma testosterone and oestrogen concentrations before and after puberty onset and corticosterone concentration before and after adrenocorticotrophin stimulus. None of the parameters was affected by fluoxetine exposure.

Dorsal and medial raphe nuclei participate differentially in reproductive functions of the male rat

BACKGROUND

Innervation of the hypothalamus and median eminence arise from the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei (DRN and MRN, respectively). The hypothalamus regulates the secretion of gonadotropins, which in turn regulate the reproductive function of males and females. However, it is not known the role of raphe nuclei in male reproductive function. Our goal was to investigate the role of the DRN and MRN in the regulation of the testicular function and secretion of gonadotropins in prepubertal rats.

METHODS

Dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) in ascorbic acid was used to chemically lesion the DRN or MRN. Rats were treated at 30 days-of-age and sacrificed at 45 or 65 days-of-age. Sham-treated controls were injected with ascorbic acid only. Negative controls were untreated rats. The damage induced by the 5,6-DHT was monitored in coronal serial sections of DRN and MRN; only the animals in which lesion of the DRN or MRN was detected were included in this study. As output parameters, we measured the concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) in the anterior (AH) and medial (MH) hypothalamus by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); whereas, circulating concentrations of gonadotropins and sexual steroids were measured by radioimmunoassay. Seminiferous epithelium and sperm quality were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Lesion of DRN or MRN does not induced changes in concentrations of LH, progesterone, and testosterone. Compared with the control group, the sham or lesion of the DRN or MRN did not modify noradrenaline or dopamine concentrations in the AH and MH at 45 or 65 days of age. Meanwhile, serotonin concentrations decreased significantly in lesioned rats. Lesion of DRN induced significantly lower concentrations of FSH regardless of age; similar lesion in the MRN had no impact on FSH levels. Sperm concentration and motility were significantly decreased in the same animals. The lesion of the MRN does not induced changes in the seminiferous epithelium or gonadotropin levels. Our results suggest that raphe nuclei regulate differentially the male reproductive functions.

CONCLUSIONS

The DRN but not the MRN regulates the secretion of gonadotropins and testicular function.