Effects of amlodipine besylate on testicular histology, sperm cells count, morphology and motility in adult male Wistar rats

Abstract

Aims/Introduction: Amlodipine besylate (5 or 10 mg daily) is a long-acting calcium-channel blocker used in men for the treatment of hypertension and angina. This study tested the hypothesis that administration of amlodipine besylate impairs fertility in adult male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine normotensive adult male Wistar rats (weighing 150-250 g) were employed in the study. Rats of Control Group I received physiological saline while rats of experimental Groups II-VI received 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 mg/kg BW of amlodipine besylate respectively for 56 to 65 days. Results: Histological analyses showed dose-dependent anomalies of the testes such as scanty seminiferous tubules, wider tubular lumen and significantly reduced sperm cells in rats that received 20 and 40 mg/kg BW of amlodipine besylate. Dose-dependent anomalies of sperm morphology such as sperms with arrow or pin head and double tail as well as significantly reduced sperm cells count and motility ( P ≤ 0.05) were observed in rats of the experimental groups. Conclusion: This study observed impaired fertility in adult male rats treated with 15 mg/kg BW and higher doses of amlodipine besylate.