title: Perinatal exposure to fluoxetine via placenta and lactation inhibits the testicular development in male rat offspring.
abstract: Due to the widespread use of fluoxetine to treat depression, including pregnant and nursing women, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of in utero and lactational exposure to fluoxetine in rat offspring at post natal day 22. Wistar rat dams were orally treated with fluoxetine (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) from day 13 gestation to day 21 lactation. Exposure to 10 and 20 mg/kg fluoxetine reduced the body and testis weights. The volume of the seminiferous tubules and epithelium were also reduced following 20 mg/kg fluoxetine exposure. The length of the seminiferous tubules and the population of Sertoli cells changed in offspring exposed to fluoxetine. The amount of seminiferous tubules lacking tubular lumen was higher in rats exposed to 20 mg/kg fluoxetine. Plasma testosterone showed no significant change. In conclusion, fluoxetine exposure via the placenta and lactation may inhibit and delay testicular development, adversely affecting several testicular parameters important for the establishment of sperm production in adulthood.
authors: Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology , Federal Rural University of Pernambuco , Recife, Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Waldo Monteiro
authors: WM
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Iana Raphaela
authors: IR
authors: de Sá
authors: Sandra Maria
authors: SM
authors: de Torres
authors: Rosana Nogueira
authors: RN
authors: de Morais
authors: Anderson Martino
authors: AM
authors: Andrade
authors: Frederico Celso Lyra
authors: FC
authors: Maia
authors: Bruno Mendes
authors: BM
authors: Tenorio
authors: Valdemiro Amaro
authors: VA
authors: da Silva Junior
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D013739:Testosterone