title: Long-term effect of ciprofloxacin on testicular tissue: evidence for biochemical and histochemical changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This research studied the effect of ciprofloxacin (CPFX) on spermatogenesis. We aimed to estimate the effect of CPFX on serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, a total of 24 mice were assigned to controlsham and test groups. We subdivided the test group into low (206 mg/kg) and high (412 mg/kg) dose CPFX groups. Control-sham animals received carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). All animals were treated orally for 45 days. Cytoplasmic carbohydrate, lipid accumulation, cytoplasmic lipase and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ratios were examined. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH ) and testosterone were measured in the control and test groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The spermatogenesis cell series exhibited low numbers of cells with periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive cytoplasm and higher numbers of cells with lipid-positive foci. The tissue to ALP ratio and germinal epithelium (GE) lipase synthesis increased in CPFX-treated animals. In contrast to the CPFX groups, control animals showed normal cytoplasmic carbohydrate, lipid, lipase and ALP ratios in all cellular layers. In the CPFX-treated groups there was a significantly lower serum testosterone level compared with the control group. The serum levels of FSH and LH in high dosetreated animals decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that following long time CPFX administration major alterations occur in GE intracytoplasmic biochemistry, which may lead to loss of physiological function and ultimately result in fertility problems. CPFX is able to imbalance serum levels of gonadotropins and testosterone levels by affecting Leydig cells.
authors: Department of Basic Sciences, Histology and Embryology Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Zobeiri
authors: Department of Basic Sciences, Histology and Embryology Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors: Rajab-Ali
authors: RA
authors: Sadrkhanlou
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Siamak
authors: S
authors: Salami
authors: Division of Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors: Karim
authors: K
authors: Mardani
keywords: Alkaline phosphatase; Ciprofloxacin; Lipase; Lipid Accumulation; Testosterone