Protective Effects of Testosterone on Cisplatin Induced Impairment of Spermatogenesis and Steroidogenesis in Rats

Cisplatin is one of the most effective and potent anticancer drugs currently approved for the treatment of several human carcinomas. However many reports available on reproductive toxicity caused by cisplatin, but very limited studies demonstrated the use of testosterone to prevent the anti fertility effects caused by cisplatin. In the present study cisplatin was administered alone and in combination with testosterone to male rats in order to investigate the possible interference of cisplatin and to investigate the protective role of testosterone against Cisplatin. Cisplatin exposure (3 mg/kg body weight) to male rats resulted in significant decrease in sperm count, sperm viability, sperm count and sperm function. From the studies it is found that steroidogenic marker enzyme (3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase) activity levels were significantly decreased in rats exposed to cisplatin when compared with the controls. Further the study shows that co-administration of cisplatin with testosterone resulted in recovery of cisplatin induced male reproductive toxicity. From the above results, it can be concluded that administration of cisplatin suppresses the spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis by inhibiting the activity levels of testicular steroidogenic marker enzymes (3β-HSD and 17β-HSD) which are essential for production of testosterone. Supplementation of testosterone along with cisplatin could restore the deficiency of testicular testosterone contents and ameliorates the detrimental effects of cisplatin, finally preserves fertility. So it may be concluded that patients under cisplatin regimen may be prescribed with testosterone during treatment period to maintain fertility.