Background: Many drugs are implicated in male infertility and screening for medication history is an important for diagnosis and treatment of the problem. The aim is to study amikacin effect on male reproductive system in comparison to gentamicin.Methods: Twenty-five male wister rats weighted 220±20 gm and aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups of five. The first group received gentamicin in dose 18.25 mg/kg/day once daily (OD) (therapeutic dose). The second group received gentamicin with double dose of the first group. The third group received amikacin in dose 54.75 mg/kg/day OD (therapeutic dose). The Fourth group received amikacin with double dose of the third group. However, the fifth group served as a control and received normal saline (NS) OD. All treatments were administered intraperitoneally (IP) for 14 days. On the 15th day, blood samples and reproductive organs were obtained from all animals. Testicular tissues were prepared for genetic testing and chemical and microscopical examination.Results: Amikacin and gentamicin negatively affected reproductive organs weights, sperm parameters, serum follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH) level relative to control (p<0.05). However, serum testosterone level was only affected with gentamicin (p<0.05). A significant difference between gentamicin and amikacin was found in sperm count, testis and epididymis weights and serum testosterone and LH level (p<0.05). Testicular histopathological changes were also found with the two drugs with different degrees. Effects of both gentamicin and amikacin were dose-dependent.Conclusions: Both gentamicin and amikacin adversely affect andrological function that should be monitored and controlled during application of these drugs.

Background: Drug-induced reproductive organs toxicities is an important aetiology in investigation of male infertility. The aim is to study levofloxacin effect on male reproductive system in comparison to ciprofloxacin.Methods: Twenty-five male wister rats weighted 230±20 gm and aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups of five. The first group received ciprofloxacin with dose 78.23 mg/kg/day in 2 doses (therapeutic dose). The second group received the double dose of the first group ciprofloxacin. The third group received levofloxacin with dose 39.11 mg/kg/day once daily (OD) (therapeutic dose). The Fourth group received the double dose of the third group levofloxacin. However, the fifth group served as a control and received normal saline with carboxymethylcellulose OD. All treatments were administered orally for 14 days. On the 15th day, blood samples and reproductive organs were obtained from all rats. Testicular tissues were prepared for genetic testing and chemical and microscopical examination.Results: Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin negatively altered reproductive organ weights, sperm parameters and serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) level (p<0.05). Additionally, serum testosterone level was significantly deceased in ciprofloxacin-treated group (the double dose) (p<0.05) relative to control. The difference between ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin was significant in seminal vesicle weight and serum LH and FSH level (p<0.05). Testicular histopathological changes were also found with the two drugs with different degrees. Effects of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were dose-dependent.Conclusions: Both ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin adversely affect andrological function that should be monitored and controlled during application of these drugs.

Drug-induced infertility is an important etiology and a common side effect. It is, therefore, important to develop newer pharmacological approaches to vanquish this bad effect. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the possible protective potential of ginseng against ciprofloxacin-induced male gonadotoxicity. Sixty adult Wister albino male rats (8 weeks old, 200 ± 20gm) were randomly divided into six groups of tens. Groups 1 and 2 received 78.23 and 156.46mg/kg/day of ciprofloxacin, respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received 156.46 mg/kg/day of ciprofloxacin plus 100 mg/kg/day ginseng, 200mg/kg/day ginseng, and 100 mg/kg/day vitamin E, respectively. However, the sixth group served as control and received NS and CMC. All treatment given orally for 14 days. Half of the animals of each group has been sacrificed on the day 15, while the second half was sacrificed on the day 60 from the start of the treatment, after blood sampling. Immediately after dissection, testis, epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicle were removed and weighted. Reproductive organ weights were decreased, sperm parameters were impaired and FSH and LH levels were increased in groups 1 and 2 but still normal in groups 3, 4 and 5 on the two sacrifice days. Testosterone level was significantly decreased in groups 1 and 2. However, higher levels were shown with low and high doses of ginseng treatment. Adding ginseng or vitamin E could protect against ciprofloxacin-induced infertility in the two sacrifice days. Fluoroquinolones Panax ginseng Reproduction Spermatogenesis

Drug exposure is a common risk factor for male infertility and should be investigated carefully. This study aimed to evaluate the possible protective effect of α-lipoic acid against gentamicininduced-testicular damage. Sixty Wister male rats aged 8 weeks and weighted 200±20 gm were randomly assigned to six groups of ten. Groups 1 and 2 were treated with 18.25 and 36.5mg/kg gentamicin, respectively. Groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated with 36.5mg/kg gentamicin plus 100mg/Kg/day α-lipoic acid (ALA), 200mg/Kg/day ALA, and 100mg/kg vitamin E, respectively. Group 6 served as control. All treatments were administered once daily for 14 days. Half the animals in each group were sacrificed on the 15th day, while the second half was sacrificed on the 60th day of the experiment. Blood samples were collected from the retroorbital venous plexus just before sacrifice. Immediately after the sacrifice, reproductive organs were removed and weighed, and semen was collected for analysis. Groups treated with gentamicin and either ALA or vitamin E showed preserved reproductive organs weight and sperm parameters compared to gentamicin alone on both sacrifice days (p<0.05). Testosterone level was also preserved with either ALA or vitamin-E co-administrated with gentamicin compared to gentamicin alone (p<0.05). However, compared to gentamicin alone, gonadotropin levels showed variable levels with the cotreatments. The hormone levels of all groups were approximately normalized on the second sacrifice day. Pathological lesions induced by gentamicin were markedly reduced upon cotreatment with ALA. Adding α-lipoic acid or vitamin E to gentamicin therapy protects from gentamicin-induced reproductive system impairment in experimental animals.