Preliminary Study on the Effect of Halofantrine Hydrochloride on the Testes of Mature Wistar Rats

Abstract

Halofantrine hydrochloride is a phenantrine methanol antimalarial, which is schizonticidal with a high degree of activity against the asexual erythrocytic stage of malaria parasites. It is indicated for the treatment of acute malaria caused by single or mixed infections of Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax. Fifteen male adult rats of Wistar strain (Rattus Norvegicus) weighing between 200-300g were divided into three groups of five rats each were used for the study. The first group (Group A) was given 0. 05ml of drug/100g of animal body weight; the second group (Group B) was given 0. 1ml of drug/100g of animal body weight while the third group (Group C; control) was given 0.05ml of physiological saline/ 100g of animal body weight. The drug/physiological saline was given in three doses at six hourly intervals. The rats were all sacrificed on the fifth day following treatment and the testes examined morphologically and histologically after fixing with 10% formaldehyde. Result obtained showed no statistical gross morphological differences between all the three rat groups with respect to testicular weights and lengths (p>0. 05). There were however, significant differences between the groups in terms of the testicular width (p<0.05). Histologically, there was increased cellularity with immature spermatocytes in the testes of the experimental rats. These changes apparently were dose dependent.It is therefore concluded that the drug apparently increases spermatogenesis and could cause degenerative changes at higher doses. Whether these changes are reversible is yet to be determined.


(Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management: 2002 6(1): 45-48)