P-59: Effect of GnRH on Vincristine - Induced Spermatogenic Defects on Sertoli Cell

Background: Male factors, mainly spermatogenesis disorder, are responsible for 20-30% of infertility occurs in different societies. One of the known causes of spermatogenesis disorder is chemotherapy in patients with cancer. The side effect of chemotherapic agents may last from 10 years up to the end of the life. Since dividing cells are mainly affected by anticancer drugs, the aim of the present study is to investigate the preventive effect of GnRH antagonist, on sertoli cell defect produced by anticancer drug (vincristine). Materials and Methods: In the present study 30 adult male mice aging 6-8 weeks were used. The mice were divided into 3 equal groups as: control, vincristine (V) group and vincristine + cetrorelix, a GnRH antagonist, (V+C) group. A single dose of Vincristine was injected as ip at 1.5 mg/kg. In V+C group cetrorelix injection was started one week before vincristine treatment and continued for 3 more weeks. Since spermatogenic cycle in mice is 35 days, mice in all groups were sacrificed 35 days after vincristine injection. Half of testicular specimens were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde and prepared for EM studies. The thin sections were studied with LEO 906 TEM. Results: Electron microscopic study showed that in control group sertoli cells had euchromatic nucleus with obvious nucleolus that usually showed one or two invagination in it and their cytoplasm lie on BL and there is BTB between them. In (V) group study showed that there were large spaces between sertoli and BL and also there were vacuoles in and between sertoli cells. Blood testis barrier were so irregular. In (V+C) group sertoli cells were similar to control group. Conclusion: According to the result it is concluded that GnRH antagonist administration before cancer treatment could partially prevent the side effect of anticancer drugs.