Effect of long term administration of halofantrine hydrochloride (halfan) on the morphology and histology of the testes of adult wistar rat

Abstract

The effect of halfan on the body weight, morphology and histology of the testes of adult wistar rats were studied. Twenty male adult wistar rats were divided into four groups with five rats in each group, and the drug at a dose of 0.05 mg/ 100 g, 0.1 mg/ 100 g, 0.15 mg / 100 g body weight were administered orally to group B, C and D respectively, three times at six hourly intervals for five days. Control group (group A) received 0.05 mg / 100g of normal saline. The data were analyzed using ANOVA for testicular variables and student t-test for the body weight and P <0.05 was considered as level of significance. The result showed no significant (p > 0.05) morphological differences in the testes of all groups and decrease in body weight was only significant (p < 0.001) in group D. The drug has no adverse effect on the histological structure of the testes using therapeutic dose, but causes some degenerative changes in seminiferous tubule at higher doses. Apparently, halfan used in the treatment of malaria has no adverse effects on body weight as well as on morphology and histology of testes of adult wistar rats