Journal of Andrology Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on the Epididymis
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Seethalakshmi, L.
Right arrow Articles by Menon, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Seethalakshmi, L.
Right arrow Articles by Menon, M.

Journal of Andrology, Vol 11, Issue 1 17-24, Copyright © 1990 by The American Society of Andrology

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Cyclosporine: its effects on testicular function and fertility in the prepubertal rat

L. Seethalakshmi, C. Flores, A. A. Carboni, R. Bala, D. A. Diamond and M. Menon
Division of Urologic and Transplantation Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01605.

The authors examined the effects of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine (CsA) on the male reproductive system in prepubertal rats. Twenty-one-day-old rats were subcutaneously injected with either cremaphorsaline vehicle or CsA (1 and 2 mg/kg/d). The animals were treated until they were 66 days old. Cyclosporine did not affect the weights of the body or testis but decreased the weights of all sex accessory organs. Quantitative analysis of the tubules in stage VII of spermatogenesis revealed a decline in the cell counts of pachytene spermatocytes and step VII spermatids. Testicular and epididymal sperm counts and motility were decreased by 50% and fertility by 60%. Cyclosporine lowered serum testosterone despite an elevation of LH, indicating that the drug directly inhibited testosterone synthesis. Serum creatinine levels were normal in the treated animals, precluding renal failure as the cause for this impairment. Intratesticular concentrations of pregnenolone and 17-hydroxy progesterone were significantly elevated, while those of progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone were markedly reduced. Determination of steroidogenic enzyme activities indicated that the administration of CsA inhibited the activity of delta 5-3B-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase-delta 5-4 isomerase (3 beta-HSD). These results clearly indicate that CsA in the doses used is harmful to the male reproductive function in prepubertal rats.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
R. G. Erben, K. S. Brunner, B. Breig, J. Eberle, M. Goldberg, and L. C. Hofbauer
Skeletal Effects of Cyclosporin A Are Gender Related in Rats
Endocrinology, January 1, 2003; 144(1): 40 - 49.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1990 by The American Society of Andrology.