The effect of L-acetylcarnitine on some reproductive functions in the oligoasthenospermic rat.
The effect of L-acetylcarnitine (LAC) on some parameters of male reproductive function was studied on rats made oligoasthenospermic with dibromochloropropane (DBCP). DBCP depresses sperm count and motility. After one injection of the drug, LAC induces a recovery of both sperm count and motility but after two injections it is ineffective. This effect is also shown visually by microscopic examination of seminiferous tubules. Among the enzymatic activities evaluated as biochemical markers of testicular function both lactate dehydrogenase and NADPH-cytochrome P 450-reductase increased significantly (P less than 0.05) after treatment with LAC in normal rats. LAC also stimulates testosterone production. It is suggested that LAC may affect testicular function.
Palmero
S
S
Istituto di Fisiologia Generale, Università di Genova, Italy.
Leone
M
M
Prati
M
M
Costa
M
M
Messeni Leone
M
M
Fugassa
E
E
De Cecco
L
L
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011407:Propane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
D007306:Insecticides; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; C007318:1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D011407:Propane