Effect of the antidepressant fluoxetin hydrochloride in the seminiferous tubules of adult rats

• Grant number: 11/19132-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Estela Sasso Cerri
• Grantee: Marina Luiza Câmara
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fluoxetine is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class and is prescribed for treating depression and anxiety disorders, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Among the side effects of fluoxetine, male sexual disfunctions have been reported. In this study, the effects of this drug on the morphological integrity of the seminiferous tubules will be evaluated. Sixty adult male rats, divided into two groups: fluoxetine group (FG) and control group (CG), will be used. The animals from FG will receive intraperitoneal injections of fluoxetine (20mg/Kg) and the animals from CG will receive distilled water. The treatment will be extended for 11 consecutive days. The testes will be fixed and processed for embedding in historesin and paraffin. In historesin sections, morphometric analysis will be made for the evaluation of the total, epithelial and luminal areas of the seminiferous tubules. The frequency of tubules according to stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle will also be obtained, as well as the frequency of seminiferous tubules containing sloughed cells in the tubular lumen. The paraffin sections will be submitted to the TUNEL method for detection of cell death. To verify the possible influence of fluoxetine on steroidogenic activity, serum levels of testosterone will be evaluated. The results will be statistically analyzed for the evaluation of the differences between the groups.(AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CAMARA, MARINA L.; ALMEIDA, TALITA B.; DE SANTI, FABIANE; RODRIGUES, BEATRIZ M.; CERRI, PAULO S.; BELTRAME, FLAVIA L.; SASSO-CERRI, ESTELA. Fluoxetine-induced androgenic failure impairs the seminiferous tubules integrity and increases ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1): Possible androgenic control of UCHL1 in germ cell death?. BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY, v. 109, p. 1126-1139, JAN 2019. (13/04867-9, 11/19132-9, 12/23845-3)