Antifertility potentials of metronidazole in male Wistar rats

Abstract

There is a growlng concern about the decline in the quality of human sperm in recent years. Following repods by previous studes on the toxic effects of metronidazole on testicular functions, th~st udy is designed to investigate further its drect effects on fertility potentials and that of the introduction of vitamin E and testosterone to metronidazole treated rats. A total of 105 adult male and 50 female Wistar rats weighing 170+10 g (70-90 day old) were used for the experiment. The rats were randomly dvided into a control and experimental groups. There were four major groups with 5 subgroups consisting of 5 rats each. Varying doses of metronidazole were used dependng on the experiment. Experiment 1; animals were fed with 15 mg kg-1 of metronidawle, experiment 2, fed with 30 mg kg-1 of metronidazole, experiment 3, administered with 200 mg kg-1 of metronidazole and experiment 4, fed with 400 mg kg-1 of metronidazole Each experimental group has 5 sub-groups A: control, B: group fed with the experimental dose, C: experimental dose with vitamin E, D: experimental dose with testosterone, E: fed with experimental dose, vitaminE and testosterone and sub-group F, a reversal group which was left for 8 weeks after cessation of treatment. Parameters assessed were sperm count/motility, hormonal assay, Fedility test for control and treated rats were also carried out. Results showed that metronidazole at the therapeutic dose of 15 mg kg-1 d d not have significant negative effect on the parameters assessed. At the dose of 200 and 400 mg kg-1, there was reduction in testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone while on the other hand luteinizing hormone was increased mostly with 400 mg kg-1 of metronidazole treatment. Body weight was also found to be significantly reduced in rats treated with 200 and 400 mg kg-1 of metronidazole The results of this study indicate that metronidazole administration (200 or 400 mg kg-1), for 8 weeks, caused a harmful effect on fertility potentials inmale rats. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information.