Fertility potential of male albino rats (Wistar strain) treated with penicillin-streptomycin combination

Abstract

The fertility potential of male albino rats (wistar strain) treated with penicillin- treptomycin combination (PSC) was studied. Thirty apparently healthy male albino rats weighing between 150 and 160g were grouped into three (A-C) n=10. Group A received therapeutic (normal) dose 0.02ml and B received hyper-therapeutic dose (hyper-dose) 0.04ml of PSC intra-peritoneally for 7 days, respectively. Rats in group C were given feed and water serving as control within the same period after which 5 animals were randomly selected from each group A, B and C and were sacrificed. Semen samples were collected to study changes in sperm motility, liveability, morphological characteristics, and blood for haematology and serum testosterone profile. The remaining five animals in each group were given water and feed for another 7 days to check for recovery. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the sperm motility of group B rats at 7 days post-treatment with hyper-dose of PSC and the total sperm abnormalities was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the same group of rats compared to A and C. There was no significant changes (p>0.05) occurred in the blood parameters across the groups, however the serum testosterone profile and sperm liveability of groups A and B rats were significantly higher at 7 days post recovery than the values obtained at 7 days post- treatment with PSC. It was concluded that Penicillin-streptomycin administration in rats at both therapeutic and hyper-therapeutic doses for 7 days had a negative effects on their sperm motility, liveability, morphological characteristics and testosterone profile, thereby reduced the fertility potentials of wistar strain albino rats. Therefore, caution must be taken in its use for animals and prolonged administration should be discouraged.