Testicular morphological evaluations in Sprgue-Dawley rats under an antitussive dextromethorphan

Abstract

Background: Dextromethorphan is the dextrorotatory enantiomer of the methyl ether of levorphanol, an opioid analgesic. It is also a  stereoisomer of levomethorphan, an opioid analgesic and has been reported to affect male fertility by altering the cytoarchitecture of the  seminiferous tubules and affect hormones that are responsible for fecundity in males. The aim of this study is to determine the  possible morphological alterations in males following exposure to dextromethorphan, using Sprague-Dawley rats as experimental  models.

Methods: A total of twenty rats (150 ± 30 g) divided into four groups (N=5; A-D) were used. Group A, control received distilled  water (DW); group B received 20 mg/kg of the drug, group C received 40 mg/kg and group D received 80 mg/kg of DM for a duration of  16 weeks. At the end of treatment period, the animals were selected and sacrificed, the following histomorphometric parameters were analyzed: diameter and height of the seminiferous tubule and epididymis, volume of testes and the number of spermatogonia,  spermatocytes and spermatids within the seminiferous tubules.

Results: Significant reduction in all the Histomorphometric parameters  were recorded when treatment groups were compared to control but when recovery-alone group was compared to treatment groups,  slight increases were recorded.

Conclusion: DM has deleterious effect on the morphometric parameters analyzed from the epididymis  and testes.