P-117: Methamphetamine Can Induce Sperm Chromatin Abnormality and Apoptosis in Mice

Background: It is showed that methamphetamine has harmful effects on male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methamphetamine administration on testis weight, sperm count, sperm morphology, and chromatin status as well as sperm apoptotis followed by the cytochemical tests in a mouse model. Materials and Methods: Twenty four NMRI male mice were divided into four groups. First, second and third groups were administrated a dose of 4, 8 and 16 mg/kg methamphetamine, respectively. Fourth group was administrated saline and considered as control. Methamphetamine was injected intraperitoneally for thirty days (one spermatogenesis period in mouse). The mice were killed and the testes were weighted. Caudal epididymis was cut to obtain sperm smears. Sperm concentration was evaluated with Makler chamber. Papanicolaou staining method was done to evaluate sperm morphology. TUNEL assay was applied for detection of sperm cell apoptosis. Also toluidine blue and aniline blue were used to evaluate sperm chromatin abnormality. Results: Data showed that administration of methamphetamine may not affect testes weight. The sperm count showed a decreasing trend in experiment groups compared to controls but the difference was insignificant. Rate of normal sperm morphology showed significant decrease in second and third groups compared to controls (p<0.001). TUNEL assay analysis showed significant increase in third group compared to control group (14.17 ±.79 and 2.67 ±.21, respectively). Toluidine blue and aniline blue staining techniques showed that there is significant increase in sperm with abnormal chromatin in third group compared to others (p<0.001). Conclusion: Administration of methamphetamine could have toxic effect on male reproductive system. It seems methamphetamine can reduce rates of sperm count and normal morphology and it could have detrimental impacts on sperm DNA integrity.