Background
Nonsteroidal antiandrogens, such as flutamide, have been used to augment the
effectiveness of the standard androgen deprivation therapies, surgical castration,
and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonists, in the treatment of advanced
prostate cancer.
Aim of the study
To study the histological effect of flutamide on the testes and epididymis of adult
albino rats as well as its effect on androgen (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER) in the
same organs.
Materials and methods
Sixty adult male albino rats were used and divided into a control group of nine
rats and an experimental group of 51 rats, which was further subdivided into three
subgroups (17 rats each). Each rat of the positive control group received the
drug vehicle, whereas rats of the experimental subgroups received a daily dose
of 67.5 mg/kg body weight of flutamide by the oral route. Animals were weighed
and sacrificed after 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The testis and epididymis specimens were
subjected to H&E, a PAS reaction, and immunohistochemistry for AR and ER
localization.
Results
Flutamide induced a significant reduction in the body weight in the rats of the
experimental subgroups. Moreover, the experimental groups showed a significant
decrease in the ARs immunoreactivity and an increase in the ERs’ immunoreactivity.
Testis showed shrinkage of the seminiferous tubules with widening of the interstitial
spaces, germ cell depletion, and dilated congested blood vessels. There was a
marked decrease in the height of the lining epithelial cells of the epididymis. There
was a decrease in the PAS reaction in the apical parts of epithelial cells with
corrugated areas of the basement membrane.
Conclusion
Flutamide, at therapeutic doses, exerts many histological effects on the testis and
epididymis of adult albino rats. Flutamide also reduced the AR immunoreactivity, but
increased the ER immunoreactivity. Further study should be carried out to determine
the effect of flutamide on the function of the male reproductive system, especially
fertility. |
