P-20: Long-Term Effects of Dexamethasone on Rate of Epididymal Sperm and Fertility in Male Mice

Background: Today, one of the world&#039;s most complex issues of fertility - infertility is becoming a concern. Under such conditions, evaluation mechanism and factors affecting fertility to control problem appears to be necessary and reasonable. Among these side effects of drugs should not be neglected. This study was designed to investigate the possible effects of Dexamethasone on rate of epididymal sperm and fertility in male mice. Materials and Methods: Fifty matured male mice were divided into five groups including control, placebo and three treatment groups. Control group was no injected, placebo group received normal saline only and treatments were Detamethasone (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) which were injected in peritoneum every other day for a period of twenty days. After 20 days, two mice from each group were selected to measure fertility and each male with two females were kept for 15 days. After 15 days, the female mice were anesthetized and the number of embryos in the uterine horn was counted. However, epididymal sperm was counted in other mice by preparation epididymal suspension. The obtained data were analyzed using Duncan&#039;s multiple ranges test by SPSS program. Results: Study sections of epididymal and sperm counts under the microscope showed that all doses of Dexamethasone significantly reduces the amount of sperm in these sections compared to control group (p<0.05). Also the fertility rate in all doses of Dexamethasone significantly decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the evidence it can be said that since Detamethasone is a synthetic Glucocorticoid and causes the immune system to be suppressed, cellular immunity is also reduced, so that, the cells become more sensitive to environmental factors and stress. Moreover, the level of apoptosis will be increased and causes impaired testicular function. Therefore, Dexamethasone has a negative effect on male reproduction.