Effect of nimodipine on male reproductive functions in rats.
Nimodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, was administered orally using two different doses (40 mg and 60 mg/kg/day) to rats. Both short term (2 weeks) and long term (6 weeks) effects of the drug were observed. The drug administration resulted in a marked decrease in sperm density, sperm motility and acrozomal reaction. Zona-pellucida penetration by the sperm obtained from drug-treated animals was significantly lower when compared with sperm from normal animals. Nimodipine stimulated Ca2+ ATPase activity in isolated plasma membrane of rate spermatozoa. In conclusion, short term and long term administration of nimodipine has deleterious effect on male reproductive functions in rats.
Saha
L
L
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh-160 012.
Bhargava
V K
VK
Garg
S K
SK
Majumdar
S
S
D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009553:Nimodipine; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases