Adverse testicular effects of some quinolone members in rats.
In the last few years, a marked decrease in male fertility has been reported. Environmental factors were recently suspected for this effect. Among those factors is the misuse of drugs and in particular antibiotics. Quinolones are a group of antibacterial agents with broad-spectrum activity. Testicular impairment of some quinolone members is controversial; a matter which stimulated our attention to investigate the adverse testicular effects of the most familiar quinolone members, namely: ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin. They were given to rats in doses of 72, 135 and 72 mg kg(-1) day(-1) p.o., respectively, for 15 consecutive days. Ofloxacin was also used to establish a dose-response relationship in doses of 36, 72 and 360 mg kg(-1) day(-1) p.o. for 15 consecutive days. Results revealed that ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin reduced testicular LDH-X activity by 39.8%, 62.7% and 60.7%, respectively. Moreover, sperm count, motility and daily sperm production were markedly decreased. Ofloxacin induced a dose-dependent decrease in testicular LDH-X activity, sperm count and motility. Furthermore, daily sperm production showed a marked reduction which amounted to 26.1% and 40. 0% following administration of ofloxacin (72, 360 mg kg(-1) day(-1) x 15 days), respectively. Moreover, administration of ofloxacin resulted in marked testicular histopathological changes. It is concluded that, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin significantly impaired both testicular function and structure in rats.
Abd-Allah
A R
AR
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr-City, Cairo, Egypt.
Aly
H A
HA
Moustafa
A M
AM
Abdel-Aziz
A A
AA
Hamada
F M
FM
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000633:toxicity; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000633:toxicity; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D015366:Pefloxacin / Q000633:toxicity; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015366:Pefloxacin; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase