DOSE-DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF TAMSULOSIN ON TESTICULAR HISTOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION
Main Article Content
Keywords
Tamsulosin, Testicular histology, Johnsen score, Leydig cells, Spermatogenesis
Abstract
Introduction: Tamsulosin, an α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist commonly used for lower urinary tract symptoms, may affect male reproductive function by altering testicular microarchitecture. Understanding its dose-dependent impact on seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells is essential for evaluating reproductive safety.
Objective: To investigate the dose-dependent effects of tamsulosin on testicular histology and function, focusing on structural changes within seminiferous tubules and interstitial compartments.
Methodology: Thirty adult albino mice were divided into three groups: control, low-dose (8 µg/kg/day), and high-dose (16 µg/kg/day) tamsulosin, administered for 45 days. Testes were collected, fixed, processed, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological evaluation. Seminiferous tubule integrity, germ cell maturation, Leydig cell count, and tunica albuginea thickness were assessed using standardized Johnsen scoring. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests.
Results: Control testes showed preserved seminiferous architecture with complete spermatogenesis. Low-dose tamsulosin induced mild disorganization of germinal epithelium, while high-dose exposure caused marked degeneration of seminiferous tubules, spermatogenic arrest, and altered interstitial Leydig cell populations. Johnsen scores were significantly reduced in the high-dose group (p ≤ 0.05), whereas tunica albuginea thickness remained unchanged.
Conclusion: Tamsulosin induces dose-dependent testicular histopathological alterations, with higher doses producing significant seminiferous tubular degeneration and interstitial cell changes. These findings highlight the importance of histological evaluation in assessing the reproductive safety of α1A-adrenoceptor antagonists.
References
Rivasi G, Rafanelli M, Mossello E,Brignole M,Ungar A.Drug-related orthostatic hypotension: beyond anti-hypertensive medications.Drugs & Aging.2020 Oct;37: 725-38. https:/ /doi.org/10. 1007/s40266-020-00796-5
Crowley L, Shen MM. Heterogeneity and complexity of the prostate epithelium: New findings from single-cell RNA sequencing studies.Cancer letters.2022 Jan 28; 525:108-14. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.10.035
4. Zhou R, Wu J, Liu B, Jiang Y, Chen W, Li J, He Q, He Z. The roles and mechanisms of Leydig cells and myoid cells in regulating spermatogenesis.Cellular and molecular life sciences.2019 Jul 30; 76: 2681-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-019-03101-9
Santiago J, Silva JV, Alves MG, Oliveira PF, Fardilha M. Testicular aging: an overview of ultrastructural,cellular,and molecular alterations. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. 2019 May 16;74(6):860-71. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8081126
Watanabe M, Yamaguchi S, Kakizaki H,Hirabayashi N, Ishida H. Evaluation of Alpha 1Adrenoceptor Antagonist Dose.Increase Therapy: An Essential Strategy for Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.Current Urology. 2020 Oct 13;14(3):113-21. https://doi.org/10.1159/000499250
Liao X, Tang Z, Ai J, Xu H, Zhang S, Liu L,Qiu S,Tan P, Fan Y, Yang L, Wei Q. Detection of prostatic inflammation from peripheral lymphocyte count and free/total PSA ratio in men with LUTS/BPH.Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2020 Apr 30;11: 589. https://doi.org/ 10.3389 /fphar.2020.00589
Akinaga J, García‐Sáinz JA, S.Pupo A. Updates in the function and regulation of α1‐adrenoceptors.British journal of pharmacology. 2019 Jul;176(14):2343-57. https://doi. org/ 10.1111/bph.14617
Li Y, Shi B, Dong F, Zhu X, Liu B, Liu Y. Effects of inflammatory responses, apoptosis, and STAT3/NF-κ B-and Nrf2- mediated oxidative stress on benign prostatic hyperplasia induced by a high-fat diet. Aging (Albany NY). 2019 Aug 8;11(15):5570. http://doi: 10.18632/aging. 102138
Sebastianelli A,Spatafora P,Frizzi J, Saleh O,Sessa M, De Nunzio C,Tubaro A,Vignozzi L, Maggi M,Serni S, McVary KT. Tadalafil 5 mg alone or in combination with tamsulosin 0.4 mg for the management of men with lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction: results of a prospective observational trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine.2019 Jul 29;8(8):1126. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gly082
Gul ZG, Kaplan SA. BPH: Why do patients fail medical therapy? Current urology reports.2019 Jul;20:1-7. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-019-0899-z
Kohestani Y, Kohestani B, Shirmohamadi Z, Faghani M. Effect of tamsulosin on testis histopathology and serum hormones in adult rats: Experimental study.International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine. 2020 Jul;18 (7):531. http://doi:10.18502/ijrm.v13i7.7370
Soliman MG, Abou-Ramadan AR, El-Abd AS, El-Tatawy HH, El-Abd SA, El-Sakka AA.Outcome of modification of dose and time of administration of tamsulosin in men with abnormal ejaculation. Urologia Internationalis. 2019 Mar 6;102(4):482-6. https://doi.org /10.1159/000497295
Khodamoradi K, Khosravizadeh Z, Parmar M, Kuchakulla M, Ramasamy R,Arora H. Exogenous testosterone replacement therapy versus raising endogenous testosterone levels: current and future prospects. F&S Reviews. 2021 Jan 1;2(1):32-42. https: //doi.org /10.1016/ j.xfnr.2020.11.001
Kohestani Y, Kohestani B, Shirmohamadi Z, Faghani M. Effect of tamsulosin on testis histopathology and serum hormones in adult rats: Experimental study. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine.2020 Jul 22;18(7):531. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v13i7.7370
Machado NR, Miyazaki MA, Oliveira TD, Dias KT, Colli LG, Belardin LB, Bertolla RP, Rodrigues SF. Systemic alpha-1 adrenergic receptor inhibition reduces sperm damage in adult and aging spontaneously hypertensive rats. Scientific Reports.2024 Nov 20;14 (1):28808. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77661-7
Ghomeshi A,Yang B, Masterson TA. The adverse effects of commonly used medications on male fertility: a comprehensive review. F&S Reviews. 2023 Jul 1;4(3):176-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfnr.2023.08.001
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Sofia Jadoon
Associate Professor, Anatomy Department, School of medicine Dentistry and Allied Sciences (SMDAS), Haripur, Pakistan
Yasir Humayun
Senior Lecturer, Chemical Pathology Department, Abbottabad International Medical College Abbottabad, Pakistan
Nighat Parveen
Assistant Professor, Physiology Department, School of Medicine Dentistry and Allied Sciences (SMDAS), Haripur, Pakistan
Saadia Sadiq
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry Department, Abbottabad International Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Anila Farid
Lecturer Biochemistry, Abbottabad International Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
