Protective effect of lipoic acid on adriamycin-induced testicular toxicity

Abstract

Background Adriamycin (ADR), an anthracycline antibiotic, which is widely used as an antineoplastic drug in the treatment of various solid tumors, has been shown to induce reproductive abnormalities in males. In the present study, the effect of lipoic acid (LA), a universal antioxidant, was investigated on ADR-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Methods Adult male albino rats of Wistar strain were administered ADR (1 mg/kg body weight, i.v.), once a week for 10 weeks. Semen quality was evaluated in terms of sperm count, percentage motility and abnormality. The testicular damage was also assessed by the measurement of marker enzymes activities and histology. Results ADR treated rats showed a significant decrease in sperm count and motility while an increase in dead and abnormal sperms. The activities of testicular marker enzymes such as γ-glutamyl transferase, β-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase were increased whereas the activity of lactate dehydrogenase-X was decreased significantly in the animals treated with ADR. ADR treated rats also showed abnormal histologic findings. Treatment with lipoic acid (35 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) 1 day prior to ADR administration, improved the semen quality and maintained near normal activities of the enzymes. Conclusion By the reversal of biochemical and morphological changes towards normalcy, the cytoprotective role of LA is illuminated in ADR-induced testicular toxicity.