Preventive role of magnesium sulphate on dexamethasone induced testicular injury in albino rats

Objective: to evaluate the protection provided by magnesium sulphate on corticosteroid-induced testicular injury in albino rats. methods: this experimental study was conducted at jinnah postgraduate medical centre,karachi,from august 1 to 20,2012,and comprised albino rats. about 90-120 days old and weighing 200-230 gm. they were divided into 3 groups. group a comprised controls,group b animals were administered dexamethasone 4mg/kg body weight per day intra-peritoneally,and group c animals were given magnesium sulphate 20mg/kg body weight per day intramuscularly,with dexamethasone at same dose as in group b. rats were sacrifised at the end of study period after recording their final weight. a midline abdominal incision was made and extended downward to the scrotum. both testes were removed. sections from both testes were prepared and stained with periodic acid-schiff -iron haematoxylin. results: of the 30 rats,each group had 10(33.33%). the mean final body weight was 251.80±1.35gm in group a,204.60±1.88gm in group b and 236.00±2.52gm in group c. the mean diameter of seminiferous tubules was 268.40±7.30µm in group a,177.00±10.90µm in group b and 238.40±2.42µm in group c. the mean thickness of germinal epithelium was 85.26±1.93µm,32.40±3.26µm and 60.40±3.18µm in the three groups,respectively. conclusion: the use of dexamethasone caused testicular injury,which ameliorated significantly by the concomitant use of magnesium sulphate. © 2016,pakistan medical association. all rights reserved.