Samur Thanoi, Siriporn Janphet, and Sutisa Nudmamud-Thanoi

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2020.119

pp. 928 - 934

Abstract

The alterations of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) and α1 adrenergic receptor (α1AR) expressions and developmental
stages of seminiferous tubule were investigated in twenty-two male rats that underwent one of three Methamphetamine (METH)
treatment regimes: acute binge (AB), escalating dose (ED) or escalating binge dose (ED-binge), in comparison with the control.
The percentages of stage II seminiferous tubule were significantly decreased in ED and ED-binge groups. Reductions of D2R
immunoreactivity in spermatocytes were found in all METH treated groups, while D2R reductions in elongated spermatids were
found in ED and ED-binge groups. The expressions of α1AR in spermatocytes were increased in all METH treated groups as
well as in round and elongated spermatids in ED and ED-binge groups. The results indicate that METH can cause changes in
D2R and α1AR expressions in the testis of METH-addicted rats, which may disrupt DA and NE functions leading to changes of
seminiferous epithelium development and consequently spermatogenesis impairment.