Histological and Morphometric Changes of Aripiprazole Versus Quetiapine on The SeminiferousTubules of the Albino Rat

Abstract

Population nowadays is suffering from some mental or behavioral disorders. Our community is complaining from increase in the appearance of mental disorders with a lot of treatment options. Increasing prevalence of psychiatric disorders is not limited to adults, but also children and adolescents are subjected to such deviations. Therefore, the uses of antipsychotics have increased. Two main drugs are used Quetiapine and Aripiprazole. These have been used with satisfactory results and fewer side effects. Both Aripiprazole and Quetiapine are known to-act on the dopaminergic receptor and this receptor has been detected in the germ cells. Hence it became the aim of the present work to detect the histological changes induced by Aripiprazole versus Quetiapine on the structure of the seminiferous tubules of albino rat, as their lining begin from a germ cell until reach the mature one.

Fifty two male albino rats were used in this study; twenty six rats aged two weeks (pre-pubertal rats) and twenty six rats aged three months (Post-pubertal rats).

The rats were divided into the following groups: Group (I): Control group: This group included twelve rats served as control untreated rats and was subdivided into: I A: six pre-pubertal rats. I B: six post-pubertal rats. Group (II): Aripiprazole group: This group included twenty rats, subdivided into: II A: ten pre-pubertal rats. II B: ten post-pubertal rats. Group (III): Quetiapine group: This group included twenty rats, subdivided into: III A: ten pre-pubertal rats. III B: ten post-pubertal rats. After 45 days (immediately after stoppage of drug administration), half of the rats in each group were scarified. The other half of each group were sacrificed after another 45 days (a recovery period; they were left without taking any drugs). At the end of the experiment, all rats were anaesthetized prior to death using ether inhalation. Dissection of the testes was done. Samples from both testes of all groups were taken and processed for Light microscopic study.

The testes of all groups showed that the seminiferous tubules lost their normal architecture pattern. Multiple vacuolations replaced the cellular elements. Focal depletions or generalized cellular loss occurred. The lumen was empty in most of the tubules. Irregularity of the tubules was a common finding as well as congestion of the blood vessels and exudation in between the tubules. Morphometric measures were done for all the groups and revealed decrease in the epithelial height of the germinal epithelium and decrease tubules perimeter and surface area. The groups treated with aripiprazole were affected more than those treated with quetiapine.