Morphometric assessment of testicular changes in drug-related fatalities

Testicular sections of 50 deceased drug addicts were examined by light micr oscopy using morphometric methods and determining the extent of spermatogen esis by application of the Johnsen score count. Twenty cases of violent dea th served as reference sample. The study was aimed at obtaining data about the degree of germinal gland damage following the duration of the individua l drug career, which was correlated to the histologic findings. Progressive ly reduced maturation of germinal cells, decrease of tubular diameter and h eight of sperm-producing epithelium were found the longer the individual ca se history has been. The results clearly indicated a substantial impairment of male fertility in the course of a drug career, but etiology seems to be multifactorial, since most of the deceased were polytoxicomanic and more t han 40% were under the influence of alcohol at the time of death. Testicula r damage is obviously a sequel of long-lasting abuse and a very complex pro cess, presumably progressing with the duration of the adverse habit. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.