Effect of Cyclophosphamide Treatment During the Embryonic Period on Fertility of Adult Male Mice

Abstract

The cyclophosphamide is commonly used for the treatment of cancer and immunosuppressive diseases in young and old age and can induce oxidative stress in reproductive organs, therefore has adverse effects on sperm quality and quantity. In this study, the effects of a single dose of cyclophosphamide on sperm parameters in adult male mice that treated with 10 mg/kg of this drug on the 11^th embryonic day were investigated. Adult female pregnant NMRI mice were divided into 2 groups; the control group received saline and the cyclophosphamide group received cyclophosphamide at a dose of 10 mg / kg on day 11^th of gestation (i.p). 60 days after the birth of the infants, male mice were sacrificed and the sperm collected from cauda of epididymis for sperm parameters study. Cyclophosphamide administration resulted in a decrease in body and testicular weight, viability, motility, and count of sperm (p? 0.05), and an increase in sperm head, neck and tail abnormality (p? 0.05). It was concluded that the cyclophosphamide, has long-term destructive effects on sperm parameters and these effects can be continuing after puberty.