Abstract
Objectives: Tramadol is a centrally acting analgesic widely abused as a male aphrodisiac. Long term use of tramadol has been reported to cause derangement of reproductive and biochemical parameters by inducing oxidative stress. We therefore investigated the effects of vitamin E on tramadol-induced alterations in these parameters.
Methodology: Male Wistar rats (210-250 g) were randomly grouped (n=5) and treated orally for 3 days. Group 1 served as control, Group 2 and 3 received tramadol (1.43 mg/kg) while Group 4 and 5 also received tramadol (50 mg/kg). Group 3 and 5 were co-administered with vitamin E (200 mg/kg). Animals were thereafter sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Sperm profile was determined microscopically while testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were analysed using ELISA technique from serum obtained. Lipid profile and liver function biomarkers were examined spectrophotometrically
Results: Tramadol (50 mg/kg) caused a significant decrease in LH and FSH, decreased weight of testes and seminal vesicles when compared with the control. Sperm motility, sperm count and testosterone decreased by tramadol (1.43 and 50 mg/kg) treatment while total cholesterol, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin and ALT were significantly increased. Co-administration with vitamin E prevented tramadolinduced increase in serum cholesterol and bilirubin. A transient protective effect of vitamin E was also observed on the sex hormones.
Conclusion: Short term tramadol use adversely affects male reproductive and biochemical parameters and this may be ameliorated by vitamin E.
Keywords: Tramadol, vitamin E, sperm profile, sex hormones
Abstrait
Contexte : Le tramadol est un analgésique à action centrale largement utilisé comme aphrodisiaque masculin. Il a été rapporté que l’utilisation à long terme du tramadol provoquait une perturbation des paramètres de reproduction et biochimiques en induisant un stress oxydatif. Nous avons donc étudié les effets de la vitamine E sur les altérations de ces paramètres induites par le tramadol.
Méthodologie : Des rats Wistar mâles (210-250 g) ont été regroupés au hasard (n = 5) et traités par voie orale pendant 3 jours. Le groupe 1 a servi de groupe témoin, les groupes 2 et 3 ont reçu du tramadol (1,43 mg / kg), tandis que les groupes 4 et 5 ont également reçu du tramadol (50 mg / kg). Les groupes 3 et 5 ont été coadministrés avec de la vitamine E (200 mg / kg). Les animaux ont ensuite été sacrifiés par dislocation cervicale. Le profil du sperme a été déterminé au microscope tandis que la testostérone, l’hormone lutéinisante (LH) et l’hormone stimulant le follicule (FSH) ont été analysées en utilisant la technique ELISA à partir du sérum obtenu. Les biomarqueurs du profil lipidique et de la fonction hépatique ont été examinés par spectrophotométrie
Résultats : Le tramadol (50 mg / kg) a entraîné une diminution significative de LH et de FSH, une diminution du poids des testicules et des vésicules séminales par rapport au contrôle. La motilité des spermatozoïdes, la numération des spermatozoïdes et la testostérone diminuent avec le traitement au tramadol (1,43 et 50 mg / kg), tandis que le cholestérol total, la bilirubine totale, la bilirubine conjuguée et l’ALT ont augmenté de manière significative. L’administration concomitante de vitamine E a empêché l’augmentation du cholestérol sérique et de la bilirubine induite par le tramadol. Un effet protecteur transitoire de la vitamine E a également été observé sur les hormones sexuelles.
Conclusion: L’utilisation à court terme du tramadol a des effets néfastes sur les paramètres de reproduction et biochimiques de l’homme, ce qui pourrait être amélioré par la vitamine E.
Mots - clés : tramadol, vitamine E, profil du sperme, hormones sexuelles
Correspondence: Dr. O. Obembe, Department of Physiology, College of Health sciences, Osun State University Osogbo, Nigeria. E-mail: olawale.obembe@uniosun.edu.ng
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