Adverse Effects of Ivermectin in comparison with Rafoxanide on Male Rats

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Ivermectin and /or Rafoxanide on male fertility, as well as their effects on the liver and kidney functions tests, some hematological parameters and histopathological changes. Sixty mature male rats were used and divided into 4 equal groups. The first group was kept as control and subcutaneously injected with proplyene glycol (2ml/kg b.wt. s,c) and were given distilled water at dose of 2ml/kg b.wt .orally . The second group was injected with Ivermectin at a dose of( 0.56 mg/kg bwt s.c). The third group was given Rafoxanide( 7.5 mg / kg bwt orally) .The fourth group was injected with Ivermectin (o.56mg/kg b.w. s.c) together with (Rafoxanide 7.5mg/kg b.w oral), All drugs were readministered to all groups after 30 days from the start of the experiment as the same doses previously mentioned. Five rats from each treated and control group were killed after 2 ,4 ,8 weeks from the beginning of drug administration .The obtained results showed that administration of Ivermectin and /or Rafoxanide induced a variety of side effects on male reproduction as reduction of testes, epididymis, and accessory sex organs weights and change in sperm characters; decease of sperm count and motility, and increase in sperm abnormalities. Liver functions testes values such as Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) were significantly increased. Moreover, administration of Ivermectin and/ or Rafoxanide induced histopathological alterations in reproductive organs, liver and kidney tissues .