title: Tamoxifen induced multinucleated cells (symplasts) and distortion of seminiferous tubules in rat testis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of tamoxifen citrate on male reproductive system of rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Groups of male rats were gavaged with tamoxifen at doses of 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 400 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) or 800 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) in 0.1 mL olive oil for 10 consecutive days. Controls were treated with 0.1 mL olive oil. Rats were anesthetized and killed on d 3, d 15 or d 35 after the last dose. Testes were collected, processed for paraffin embedding, sectioned at 5 microm thickness, stained with HE and analyzed microscopically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a dose-dependent increase in the occurrence of seminiferous tubular distortion with germinal cell sloughing. The highest dose increased the number of multinucleated giant cells on d 3 and d 15.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tamoxifen citrate induces multinucleated giant cells and germinal epithelial sloughing in a dose-dependent manner and these changes are detrimental to male fertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, PPSP University Science Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. dsouza@kb.usm.my
authors.forename: Urban J A
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: D'Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000633:toxicity*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen