L-Carnitine ameliorates Cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity in rats

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effect of cisplatin on testes of male rats and to evaluate the possible curative effect of L-carnitine as an antioxidant. Methods: 18 male Albino Wistar rats were equally divided into three groups. Group I: control; Group II: cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) for a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection; Group III cisplatin + 250 mg/kg/day of L-carnitine. Administration of L-carnitine by oral gavage started one day after cisplatin injection and was continued for 14 consecutive days. The rats were euthanized and the left testes were fixed in formaldehyde fixative for histopathological examination and morphometric analysis. The right testes were kept for biochemical tests to evaluate the levels of malondialdahyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Results: Cisplatin-induced impairment of spermatogenesis leading to a decreased in the testicular and gonadal organs weight, a decline in the sperms number, an increase in MDA level and a decrease in GSH level. Histological damage like degeneration, necrosis, arrest of spermatogenesis, congestion, and a decrease in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules were also observed. The rats that received cisplatin and L-carnitine showed non-significant changes in the testicular and gonadal organ weight comparing with the control rats and restored the control level of MDA and GSH. L-carnitine ameliorates the histological changes caused by cisplatin. Seminiferous tubules showed as normal with a non-significant change in their diameter. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that cisplatin induced testicular toxicity and L-carnitin could ameliorate this toxicity.