Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

  Gh.R. Asadikaram [1] , M. Asiabanha [2] , A. Rahnema [3] , Z. Shaebani Shahrbabaki [4] , M. Mahmoodi [5] , H.A. Sasan [6]

  Received: 12/06/2010 Sent for Revision: 27/11/2010 Received Revised Manuscript: 26/01/2011 Accepted: 03/02/2011

  Background and Objectives : Apoptosis is a physiological mechanism of cell death and it can be triggered by a variety of internal and external stimuli. It has been shown that some opium derivatives promote cell apoptosis. This study was designed to examine the influence of opium addiction on testicular cell apoptosis in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 7 opium-addicted as case group and 7 normal rats as control group. In the case group, animals treated with peritoneal injections of opium twice a day at 8 a.m and 8 p.m for 8 days based on the following regimen at the first day 30 mg/kg, second day 60 mg/kg, third day 90 mg/kg, fourth day 120 mg/kg, and from fifth to eighth day 150 mg/kg. The control group received only normal saline. Apoptosis was then evaluated by TUNEL and DNA fragmentation assays.

  Results: The results of this study showed that the rate of testicular cells apoptosis in opium-addicted rats were significantly higher than the normal rats (p<0.001 ).

  Conclusion: These results indicated that opium addiction may play an important role in testicular cells apoptosis and as a result can cause testicula dysfunction and reduced testosterone production which may culminate in infertility.

  Key words: Apoptosis, Testis Cells, Addiction, Opium, Rat

  Funding: This research was funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

  Conflict of interest : None declared.

  Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences approved the study.

  How to cite this article : Asadikaram Gh.R, Asiabanha M, Rahnema A, Shaebani Shahrbabaki Z, Mahmoodi M, Sasan H.A. Testicular Cells Apoptosis in Opium-Addicted Rats: (Short Report) . J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2011 10(3): 231-6. [Farsi]

  1- Associate Prof. Dept of Biochemistry and Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  (Corresponding Author) Tel: (0341) 3221660, Fax: (0341) 3222048, E-mail : asadi_ka@yahoo.com

  2- Academic Member, Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

  3- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Pathology, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

  4- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Internal Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

  5- Prof., Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics , Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

  6- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Biology, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran