TCPL delivery system: the role of DHT, DHEA, and E on the epididymal tubules of adult male rats.

Recent studies reported from our laboratory have established that the sustained delivery of danazol in combination with androgens resulted in the remarkable reduction of epididymal mass. In addition, previous studies have recommended that ultrastructural of epididymal tubules have to be elucidated. The specific objective of this investigation was to evaluate the cytological characteristics of epididymal tissues exposed to sustained delivery of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrsterone (DHEA) and a combination of Estrogen (E), DHEA plus DHT by means of tricalcium phosphate lysine (TCPL) delivery system. Adult male rats (BW 300-350 gm) were randomly divided into four equal groups: Group I animals were implanted i.p. with TCPL loaded with DHEA (100 mg). Animals in group II were implanted with TCPL capsules loaded with DHEA (100 mg) + DHT (500 mg). Group III animals were implanted with TCPL capsules loaded with E (200 mg) + DHEA (100 mg) + DHT (500 mg). Group IV animals served as the intact unimplanted controls. Surgical aseptic techniques were performed according to standard laboratory procedures. The animals were maintained at the University of Mississippi Medical Center Animal Facilities following the rules and regulations established by NIH on the Care and Use of Laboratory animals. At the end of 6 weeks post implantation, all animals were sacrificed and the epididymal tissues were collected, weighed, and embedded for histopathological evaluations. Statistical analysis was conducted by using standard computer programs (STATVIEW, ANOVA at 95% CI). The data obtained in this investigation demonstrated the following: (1) remarkable reduction in sperm counts and motility obtained from epididymal tubules in all experimental (hormonally treated) groups, (2) the lumen of the epididymal tubules were devoid of sperm in animals treated with DHT in comparison to the control, (3) a decrease in the diameter of tubules with occasional hypertrophic epithelium in all experimental animals, (4) disorganization of nuclear material was observed in animals treated with DHEA and DHEA + E + DHT in comparison to the control group. The overall observation of this study suggests that sustained delivery of DHEA, DHEA + DHT, and DHEA + DHT + E can be used to regulate the structural and functional architecture of the site of extramaturation of spermatozoa.