Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Adult Testes Exposed to Diclofenac Sodium: the Acute Exposure Syndrome

Diclofenac sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication with prostaglandin synthesis inhibiting properties. It has long been used to treat a variety of testicular problems and symptoms. However, the use of NSAIDs for specific disorders has generated some concerns due to their ability to trigger apoptosis in a variety of cells. The goal of this study was to discover if Diclofenac sodium had any effect on the reproductive function of the testes. Ten male Wistar rats (160 – 200g weight) were randomly distributed into two groups designated as groups A and B respectively. The rats in group A were injected with physiological saline while the rats in group B were given 5mg/kg Diclofenac sodium (IM) for three days. Twenty-four hours (24hrs) after the administration of the last respective dose, the rats were euthanized using Ketamine (10mg/kg IM). The testes were excised, fixed in Bouin’s fluid (48hrs), and subsequently processed according to the general techniques of tissue processing and microtomy as described by Bancroft and Gamble. Serial sections (5µm thickness) of the paraffin-embedded testicular tissue were obtained for the individual stains to be carried out. Diclofenac sodium caused a considerable (p