Reversal of Quinine-Induced Testicular Toxicity by Testosterone in Rat

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated that quinine (QU), which is presently the mainstay of treatment for severe P.falciparum malaria and nocturnal lag cramps, is deleterious to the testis of rat.
OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate, using sterological technique whether testosterone (TT) is capable of reversing the toxic effects of QU on the testis of Sprague-Dawley rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 170-200g were used and were randomly divided into 3 grounds of 10 rats each. Group 1 rats had QU only at the dose of 10 mg/kg body weight per day for 8 weeks. Group 2 rats had QU for the first 8 weeks, followed by TT (0.05mg/kg body weight), for the next 8 weeks. Group 3 rats constituted the control. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of 16 weeks. Seminal analysis was done on the tubular fluid aspirated from the caudal epididymides. Histological slides of the testes were prepared and morphometric parameters that included diameter and cross –sectional area of testis, numerical density of the seminiferous tubules, volume density and absolute volume of testicular components were determined.
RESULTS: Our results showed that there was significant testicular destruction and decrease (P <0.05) in mean sperm count and motility in the QU –treated rats compared with the control and QU plus TT groups while there were no significant differences in both the seminal parameters and testicular morphology and morphometry between the control and QU plus TT rats.
CONCLUSION: We conclude that TT is capable of reversing QU-induced testicular and seminal toxicity.

Keywords: testis, seminiferous tubules, quinine, testosterone.

NQJHM Vol. 14 (2) 2004: pp. 121-125