International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine

Published date: Apr 26 2025

Journal Title: International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine

Issue title: International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM): Volume 23, Issue No. 2

Pages: 153 – 170

DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v23i2.18487

Rozhina LalehDepartment of Biology, Parand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran

Mitra Heydari Nasrabadiheydarimitra45@iau.ac.irDepartment of Biology, Parand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran

Parvin KhodarahmiDepartment of Biology, Parand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran

Jamshid SoltaniDepartment of Medical Radiation Engineering, Parand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran

Background: Cannabis addiction poses risks to male fertility by lowering levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which is vital for spermatogenesis. Objective: This research aimed to determine if the injection of exogenous GDNF into the brain of cannabis-addicted rats has a positive impact on their behavior and spermatogenesis.

Materials and Methods: This study involved 15 male Wistar rats divided into 3 equal groups: control, model, and experimental. Cannabis addiction was induced in the model and experimental groups using a smoking machine with a 0.25 gr dose per 5 rats, and the experimental group received a 0.5 mg GDNF treatment via stereotaxic injection. Behavioral changes were assessed through plus maze, open field, and sucrose preference tests before and after treatments. Sperm parameters were evaluated with H&E staining, sperm morphology with Diff-Quik staining, DNA damage and viability with acridine orange and trypan blue staining.

Results: Addicted rats displayed increased anxiety, which was improved by GDNF treatment (p < 0.05). Although cannabis significantly reduced germ cells and the size of the testis and epididymis compared to controls (p = 0.0006, p = 0.003), GDNF had a limited effect on these aspects. Cannabis significantly altered sperm morphology (p = 0.0016), but GDNF reversed abnormal sperms. GDNF improves sperm quality, reverses cannabis-induced sperm grading alterations (grade C, p = 0.0295), reduces DNA damage significantly (p = 0.0242), and enhances sperm viability, highlighting its potential to counteract some of cannabis’s harmful effects on male reproductive health.

Conclusion: The findings of this experiment suggest that exogenous GDNF could be a potential therapeutic agent for cannabis addiction and sperm parameters.

Keywords: Wistar rat, Cannabis smoking, GDNF growth factor, Spermatozoa, Histological techniques

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