ArticleReproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E2009
Structural alterations in the seminiferous tubules of rats treated with immunosuppressor tacrolimus.
Article in Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- Calcineurin Inhibitors and Male Fertility in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Comprehensive Review of Molecular Pathomechanisms and Reproductive Toxicity of Cyclosporine A and Tacrolimus.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Topiramate Impairs Spermatogenesis, Sperm Parameters, and Epididymal Duct Contractility in Rats.ACS pharmacology & translational science · 2026Article
- Ultrastructural Features, Immune Response, and Junctional Proteins in the Seminiferous Epithelium of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Mice.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- The treatment based on calcineurin inhibitors and their conversion to sirolimus alter the morphology in the rat testis.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Cell protective effects of vitamin C against oxidative stress induced by ciprofloxacin on spermatogenesis: involvement of cellular apoptosis.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2025Article
- Unraveling the effect of the inflammatory microenvironment in spermatogenesis progression.Cell and tissue research · 2023Article
- Testosterone Deficiency as One of the Major Endocrine Disorders in Chronic Kidney Disease.Nutrients · 2022Review
- Protective Effect of Melatonin on Nonylphenol-Induced Reproductive and Behavioral Disorders in First-Generation Adult Male Rats.Behavioural neurology · 2022Article
- Impaired macrophages and failure of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in rat testes with cytokines deficiency induced by diacerein.Histochemistry and cell biology · 2021Article
- The Effects of Long-Term Immunosuppressive Therapies on the Structure of the Rat Prostate.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Male infertility in renal failure and transplantation.Translational andrology and urology · 2019Review
- Article
- Phosphatase inhibition increases AQP2 accumulation in the rat IMCD apical plasma membrane.American journal of physiology. Renal physiology · 2016Article
- A prospective study in male recipients of kidney transplantation reveals divergent patterns for inhibin B and testosterone secretions.Basic and clinical andrology · 2014Article
- Long-term impact of immunosuppressants at therapeutic doses on male reproductive system in unilateral nephrectomized rats: a comparative study.BioMed research international · 2013Article
- Enalapril reduces germ cell toxicity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat: investigation on possible mechanisms.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2012Article
- Effects of an immunosuppressive treatment on the rat prostate.Drug design, development and therapyArticle
- Comparison of High Spermatic Vessel Ligation and Low Spermatic Vessel Ligation in an Undescended Model of Rat Testis.Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric SurgeonsArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTacrolimus (FK-506) is an immunosuppressant that binds to a specific immunophilin, resulting in the suppression of the cellular immune response during transplant rejection. Except for some alterations in the spermatozoa, testicular morphological alterations have not been described in rats treated with tacrolimus. In the present study, we purpose to evaluate if the treatment with tacrolimus at long term of follow-up interferes in the integrity of the seminiferous tubules.
methodsRats aging 42-day-old received daily subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg/day of tacrolimus during 30 (T-30) and 60 (T-60) days; the rats from control groups (C-30 and C-60) received saline solution. The left testes were fixed in 4% formaldehyde and embedded in glycol methacrylate for morphological and morphometric analyses while right testes were fixed in Bouin's liquid and embedded in paraffin for detection of cell death by the TUNEL method. The epithelial and total tubular areas as well as the stages of the seminiferous epithelium and the number of spermatocytes, spermatids and Sertoli cells (SC) per tubule were obtained.
resultsIn the treated groups, seminiferous tubules irregularly outlined showed disarranged cellular layers and loss of germ cells probably due to cell death, which was revealed by TUNEL method. In addition to germ cells, structural alterations in the SC and folding of the peritubular tissue were usually observed. The morphometric results revealed significant decrease in the number of SC, spermatocytes, spermatids and significant reduction in the epithelial and total tubular areas.
conclusionTacrolimus induces significant histopathological disorders in the seminiferous tubules, resulting in spermatogenic damage and reduction in the number of Sertoli cells. A careful evaluation of the peritubular components will be necessary to clarify if these alterations are related to the effect of FK-506 on the peritubular tissue.
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