Tolnidamine-Induced Changes in the Testis, Sperm Count, Fertility and Accessory Sex Glands of the Laboratory Mouse

Background Tolnidamine-induced changes have been reported earlier on spermatogenesis, fertility and sperm count in rat, rabbit and langur monkey. The aim of this study is to assess the response of these aspects to tolnidamine in the laboratory mouse. MaterialsAndMethods Adult male mice (12-14 weeks old) of Parkes (P) strain were used in the present study. All the animals were divided into five groups. Groups I, II and V were taken as untreated, vehicle-treated initial and vehicle-treated terminal controls, respectively. Meanwhile, animals of Group III were administered with tolnidamine (100mg/kg BW, twice a week) orally for 3, 5 and 7 weeks and killed 24 hrs. after the last injection. Animals of Group IV were administered with the same dose of the tolnidamine for 7 weeks and then sacrificed 5 and 7 weeks after withdrawal of the drug. Tolnidamine-induced changes were evaluated on spermatogenesis, motility and count of epididymal spermatozoa, fertility and accessory sex glands and compared with the untreated and vehicle-treated controls. Results Tolnidamine treatment induced significant decrease in the weights of the testis and epididymis; however, the weights of the accessory sex glands remained unaltered following the treatment. Duration-dependent degenerative changes were noticed in the testicular germinal epithelium showing vacuolization and loosening of the germ cells and Sertoli cells. Percentage motility and count of epididymal spermatozoa declined significantly following administration of tolnidamine. Likewise fertility of the treated males as well as number of the live blastocysts in females impregnated with such males also exhibited a significant decrease when compared with the controls. However, no change was noticed in the mating ability of the mice treated with tolnidamine. The level of seminal vesicular fructose also remained unaltered after the treatment. Withdrawal studies revealed duration-dependent recovery in spermatogenesis, percentage motility and count of spermatozoa and fertility. Conclusion The findings of the present study, therefore, reveal that tonidamine administration in P mice induces reversible inhibition of spermatogenesis, motility and count of spermatozoa and fertility without affecting the androgen-dependent parameters.