%0 Journal Article %A Asadikaram, Gh.R. %A Asiabanha, M. %A Rahnema, A. %A Shaebani Shahrbabaki, Z. %A Mahmoodi, M. %A Sasan, H. %T Testicular Cells Apoptosis in Opium-Addicted Rats: (Short Report) %J Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences %V 10 %N 3 %U http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-1070-en.html %R %D 2011 %K Apoptosis, Testis Cells, Addiction, Opium, Rat, %X   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 %> http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-1070-en.pdf %P 231-236 %& 231 %! %9 Research %L A-10-98-2 %+ %G eng %@ 1735-3165 %[ 2011