Molecular and hormonal changes caused by long-term use of high dose pregabalin on testicular tissue: the role of p38 MAPK, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Molecular and hormonal changes caused by long-term use of high dose pregabalin on testicular tissue: the role of p38 MAPK, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Mol Biol Rep. 2020 Oct 13;: Authors: Taha SHN, Zaghloul HS, Ali AAER, Rashed LA, Sabry RM, Gaballah IF Abstract In 1990, pregabalin was introduced as a novel antiepileptic drug that acts by binding selectively to the alpha-2-delta subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels resulting in increasing neuronal GABA levels and inhibiting the release of exciting neurotransmitters. The aim of our study is to assess the hazardous effects of prolonged high-dose pregabalin (like that abused by addicts) on testes and to clarify the potential causative mechanisms. The current study was conducted on 70 adult male Wistar albino rats which were divided into 7 groups. In our study we evaluated the effect of pregabalin, at concentrations 150 and 300 mg/kg/day for 90 days, on hormones; FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin secretion. Our study also evaluated the expression of apoptosis-related genes BAX and BCL2 in testicular tissue in addition to the western blotted analysis of p38 Mitogen activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK). The levels of reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase were also measured. Pregabalin decreased testosterone level while FSH, LH and prolactin showed a significant increase. It also produced genotoxicity through reversal of the BAX/BCL2 ratio; increased p38...
Source: Molecular Biology Reports - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: Mol Biol Rep Source Type: research