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. 2017 Oct;15(10):625-634.

Effects of administration of co-trimoxazole and folic acid on sperm quality and histological changes of testes in male rats

Ehsan Salarkia  1 , Gholamreza Sepehri  2 , Parvin Torabzadeh  1 , Jalil Abshenas  3 , Arezoo Saberi  4
Affiliations

Effects of administration of co-trimoxazole and folic acid on sperm quality and histological changes of testes in male rats

Ehsan Salarkia et al. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Male infertility has been reported following long-term sulfasalazine, however, the precise effects of co-trimoxazole on sperm quality is controversial.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the effects of co-trimoxazole and its co-administration with folic acid on sperm quality and histological changes of testes in male rats.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 136 male Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups: I (control), II (vehicle) received saline, III: received folic acid (1 mg/kg /daily i.p., and IV- IX received co-trimoxazole (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg/daily; i.p.)+folic acid (1 mg/kg/daily; i.p.) for 14 or 28 days. Sperm samples were obtained from each group at the end of 14th and 28th days. Sperm numbers, motility, and viability were evaluated on a hemocytometer. Hematoxylin and Eosin stained testes were done for evaluation ofthe number of Leydig cells, vascularity, spermatids, spermatocytes, and means of seminiferous tubules diameter under light microscopy.

Results: Co-trimoxazole treatment for either 14 or 28 days caused a significant decrease in the percentage of sperm number, motility, and viability (p<0.001) compared to the control group. Also, high doses of co-trimoxazole caused a significant decrease in testes structural abnormalities means of seminiferous tubules diameter, spermatids, and spermatogonia) compared to the vehicle group (p<0.001). Folic acid co-administration with co-trimoxazole partially reversed the decrease in sperm quality and structural abnormalities of high doses of co-trimoxazole (60 and 120 mg/kg/daily) (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The data showed the adverse effects of co-trimoxazole on sperm quality and testes morphology which was protected partially by folic acid co-administration in rats. The underlying mechanism (s) needs further investigations.

Keywords: Co-trimoxazole; Folic acid; Rats; Sperm quality; Testis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of 14 and 28 days treatment with co-trimoxazole, folic acid and their co-administration on epidydymal sperm concentration in male rats.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of 14 days treatment with co-trimoxazole, folic acid and their co-administration on epididymal sperm motility, and viability in male rats
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of 28 days treatment with co-trimoxazole, folic acid and their co-administration on epididymal sperm motility, and viability in male rats.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Histological images of testeshematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining (×400) in studid groups (A-H)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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