Cocaine Effects on Reproductive Behavior and Fertility: An Overview

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cocaine, a widely used drug, can influence sexual behavior. It has been shown, especially in mammals, that cocaine can cause various disorders of sexual activity and gonadal dysfunction in both sexes. Cocaine has been found to alter the cell cycle, alter the meiotic spindle, induce apoptosis, and alter sperm motility. This review provides an overview of the main effects of cocaine on spermatogenesis and oogenesis, laying the groundwork for future investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of cocaine and its metabolites with germ cells. ABSTRACT: Cocaine is one of the most widely used drugs that, due to its molecular properties, causes various behavioral alterations, including sexual behavior. In vivo and in vitro studies conducted mainly in mammals have shown various disorders of sexual activity and morpho-functional dysfunctions of the gonads in both sexes. Although the modalities are still unclear, cocaine has been shown to alter the cell cycle, induce apoptosis, and alter sperm motility. In females, this drug alters the formation of the meiotic spindle as well as may obstruct the ovulation mechanism of mature oocytes. The data provided in this review, in addition to reviewing the current literature on the main effects of cocaine on spermatogenesis and oogenesis mainly in mammals, will hopefully provide a basic overview that may help and support further future studies on the molecular interaction of cocaine and its metabolites with germ cells.