Effect of metronidazole on spermatogenesis, plasma gonadotrophins and testosterone in rats

Metronidazole and its derivatives have both antiprotozoal and anti bacterial effects. thereproductive toxicity of metronidazole has been observed in some studies. the aim ofthis study was to determine the detrimental effects of metronidazole on spermatogenesisand testicular androgenesis in male adult rats. eighteen male wistar rats (70-90 daysold) were randomly divided into three groups. animals in group i (control group) wereadministered with the water only. animals in groups ii and iii were administered withmetronidazol at the doses of 200 or 400 mg/kg/day for 60 days. quantitative analysis ofspermatogenesis was carried out by counting the relative number of each variety of germ-cellsat the stage vii of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, i.e. type-a spermatogonia (asg), preleptotenespennatocytes (plsc), and step 7 spennatids (7sd). plasma follicle-stimulatinghormone (fsh), luteinizing hormone (lh) and testosterone were measured byradioimmunoassay (ria) . in groups ii and iii, there was a significant decrease in thetestes, accessory sex organ weights, plasma concentrations of lh, fsh and testosteronewith massive degeneration of all the germ cells at stage vii. our data concluded thatmetronidazole has a suppressive influence on spermatogenesis and sex hormones in rats.