title: Prevention of high altitude-induced testicular disturbances by previous treatment with cyproheptadine in male rats.
abstract: Male rats were exposed to 4,340 m altitude for 4 days. At this time histological alteration in the testes were observed. There were tubules with pyknotic primary spermatocytes and spermatids, necrosis of numerous cells, and sloughing of primary spermatocytes. The damaged areas were limited by normal tissue. Serum testosterone increased significantly after 4 days of exposure. Administration of an anti-serotoninergic compound, cyproheptadine (10 mg/kg body weight), prevented the high altitude-induced changes in both spermatogenesis and serum testosterone. These observations suggest that serotonin is involved in the testicular changes that occurred when rats are acutely exposed to high altitude.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima-Peru.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valera
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Hjarles
mesh_terms: D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D000818:Animals; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003533:Cyproheptadine; D012701:Serotonin; D013739:Testosterone