Vitamins A and D attenuation of flutamide-induced alterations in testicular micromorphology, reduced spermatogenesis, and steroidogenesis

Abstract

Low testosterone is known to be a male infertility factor. Flutamide a drug of choice in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia is associated with suppressed male fertility as it antagonizes action of testosterone. This study was therefore designed, to investigate the effect of combination therapy of fat soluble vitamins A and D on flutamide-induced testicular dysfunction. Twenty five adult male Wistar rats weighing between 150-270 g were used. The rats were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups (n= 5 per group) as follows. Control group was given the vehicle saline;  flutamide group was administered flutamide; flutamide-Vit D group was treated with vitamin D following administration of flutamide; flutamide-Vit A group was treated with vitamin A following administration of flutamide, and finally, there was flutamide-Vit A&D group which was treated with vitamins A and D following administration of flutamide. The drugs were administered for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation. The right testes were recovered, weighed, fixed in 10% formal saline and processed for histological staining. Blood samples were collected through ocular puncture, centrifuged and serum obtained was used for serum testosterone assay using ELISA test kit. The left testes were homogenized in ice-cold phosphate buffer, centrifuged and the supernatant used for oxidative stress analysis. The caudal epididymides were recovered and used for sperm analysis. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA with significance level set at p<0.05. Result on histoarchitecture of male reproductive organs showed distortion of the testis, vas deference and prostate. Serum testosterone levels was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in groups that received vitamins A and D. Sperm parameters of group that received combination of vitamin A and D also increased significantly (p<0.05) increase. Testicular antioxidants enzymes in the group that received vitamins A and D showed significant (p<0.05) increase. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that a combined therapy of vitamins A and D could yield better result in the management of flutamide-induced male infertility.

Keywords: Flutamide, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Spermatogenesis