Effects of amlodipine on spermatological parameters and genital tract weight in adult wistar male rats

Abstract

Calcium ions are very important for many sperm functions involving sperm motility, reaction, and hyperactivation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of calcium channel blocker (CCB), Amlodipine (AML), on spermatological features, genital tract weight and spermatogenic cell density in adult male Wistar rats. Twelve rats (age, 12 weeks; weight, 290-350 g) were divided into two groups, six rats per each. Group I rats were fed normal diet without AML served as the control, Group II received 0.04 mg/daily AML for 30 days by oral gavage. Motility, left testis, right epididymis, prostate weight were decreased, and abnormal sperm rate was significantly (P<0.05) increased in AML groups compared with control group. The seminiferous tubular diameter and germinal cell layer thickness were not affected compared with control group. In conclusion, subacute administration of AML to male rats have detrimental effects on the spermatological parameters and genital tract weights, but not affect spermatogenic cell density of male rats.