Effect of tamoxifen treatment on the semen quality and fertility of the male rat.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of tamoxifen treatment on the seminal quality and fertility of the male Wistar rat.


METHODS
Experimental prospective study.


METHODS
Animal research and university laboratory facility.


METHODS
Seventy-five-day-old male and female Wistar rats.


METHODS
Sperm quality parameters were assayed in seminal and epididymal sperm samples in control and treated rats at a dose of 0.4 mg tamoxifen/kg per day. In addition, mating studies were performed, and different fertility parameters were assayed.


RESULTS
Tamoxifen treatment significantly decreased sperm concentration and motility in seminal and epididymal sperm. Sperm viability and hypo-osmotic swelling test results were shown not to be altered. The copulatory plug was absent or severely impaired in tamoxifen-treated males. When mating experiments were performed, a significant decrease in the fertility index and increased percentages of preimplantation and postimplantation embryo loss were also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen treatment significantly altered sperm quality in seminal and epididymal sperm. These alterations were present in testis and epididymis, and additional negative effects on the sexual accessory glands were observed. Finally, these alterations were capable of seriously compromising fertility ability of these male rats.
Motrich
Ruben D
RD
Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI-CONICET), Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Córdoba, Argentina. rmotrich@bioclin.fcq.unc.edu.ar
Ponce
Andres A
AA
Rivero
Virginia E
VE
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002470:Cell Survival; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011786:Quality Control; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen