Effect of venlafaxine on the epididymal histophysiology of adult rats

• Grant number: 18/25353-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Estela Sasso Cerri
• Grantee: André Acácio Souza da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epididymis is a coiled long tube essential for male reproduction and fertility. The cells of the pseudostratified columnar epithelium produce a special luminal fluid that maintain, nourish and stimulates the maturation of spermatozoa. The clear cells are responsive to luminal microenvironment stimuli and, by the accumulation of V-ATPase in the apical membrane, these cells secrete protons, which maintain the luminal pH. The contraction of the smooth muscular layer surrounding the epithelium transport sperm cells through the epididymis. Venlafaxine, an antidepressant drug that inhibits serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, has been widely used in a scenario where depression has been a very serious disease. Around 67% of patients treated with venlafaxine has demonstrated sexual dysfunctions such as erectile and ejaculation dysfunctions. However, studies on the impact of venlafaxine on the structure and/or function of male reproductive system, including epididymis, are scarce in the literature. In this study, we evaluate the impact of venlafaxine treatment on the structural and functional integrity of epididymis in adult male rats, focusing on the epithelial cells and smooth muscular layer of epididymis. Ten male adult rats will be distributed into two groups: (n=5): Venlafaxine group (VFG35) and control group (CG35). The animals will receive 30mg/Kg b.w. of venlafaxine chlorhydrate by gavage for 35 days, and the animals from CG35 will receive distilled water. The epididymis will be collected and sectioned into two portions (head + corpus and cauda), fixed and processed for paraffin and historesin embedding. In the H.E.-stained historesin sections, the minor diameter of epididymal duct and the thickness of the muscular layer will be measured. The paraffin sections will be submitted to TUNEL method for detection of cell death in the epithelial and muscular layers. Immunofluorescence reaction for detection of ATPase in the clear cells will be performed. The quantitative results will be statistically analyzed by Student t-test, (pd0.05).

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)

DA SILVA, ANDRE ACACIO SOUZA; DE SANTI, FABIANE; HINTON, BARRY T.; CERRI, PAULO SERGIO; SASSO-CERRI, ESTELA. Venlafaxine increases aromatization, reduces apical V-ATPase in clear cells and induces increased number of mast cells and smooth muscle cells death in rat cauda epididymis. Life Sciences, v. 315, p. 16-pg., 2023-01-23. (17/19829-6, 18/25353-7)

MANZATO, MARIANE CASTRO; DE SANTI, FABIANE; SOUZA A SILVA, ANDRE ACACIO; BELTRAME, FLAVIA L.; CERRI, PAULO S.; SASSO-CERRI, ESTELA. Cimetidine-induced androgenic failure causes cell death and changes in actin, EGF and V-ATPase immunoexpression in rat submandibular glands. Journal of Anatomy, v. 239, n. 1, MAR 2021. (18/25353-7, 17/19829-6, 18/25409-2)

SASSO-CERRI, ESTELA; DE SANTI, FABIANE; DA SILVA, ANDRE A. S.; RODRIGUES, BEATRIZ M.; BELTRAME, FLAVIA L.; CERRI, PAULO S.. DAMAGED SPERM PARAMETERS AND SPERMIATION FAILURE IN VENLAFAXINE-TREATED RATS: A CORRELATION WITH HIGH TESTICULAR AROMATASE IMMUNOEXPRESSION AND REDUCED EPIDIDYMAL V-ATPASE.. Fertility and Sterility, v. 112, n. 3, p. 1-pg., 2019-09-01. (18/13590-4, 18/25353-7, 17/19829-6)