ABSTRACT
We examined the effects of the cyclophosphamide on the testis of pubertal rats. The effects of drug on the pubertal testis were compared to the prepubertal and postpubertal experimental groups. The drug was administered intraperitoneally l00mg/kg weekly for 3 weeks and then two and four weeks later the experimental groups were sacrificed.Rats4,7 and 12weeks old were selected as the prepuberty, puberty and adult groups respectively.In the all experimental groups except the prepubertal group which was sacrificed at postinjection 2 weeks, the body weight was significantly decreased compared to the control group. In the pubertal and adult group the testis weights were decreased (puberty 0.94+/-0.07gm at 2 weeks, 1.48+/-0.03gm at 4 weeks, adulthood 1.52+/-0.07gm at 2 weeks, 1.76+/-0.06gm at 4 weeks) very significantly compared to that of the control group(puberty: 1.53+/-0.06 at 2 weeks, 1.7l+/-0.07gm at 4 weeks, adulthood: 1.83+/-0.08gm at 2 weeks, 1.99+/-0.07gm at 4 weeks, p<0.0l). The seminiferous tubular diameter of the puberty group was very significantly decreased (269+/-24um at 2 weeks, 275+/-21um at 4 weeks, p<0.01) and decreased significantly in the adult group( 278+/-20 m at 2 weeks, 289+/-18um at 4 weeks, p<0.05)compared to that of the control group(puberty 2 weeks 291+/-22um, 4 weeks 289+/-25um, adulthood 2 weeks 290+/-22um, 4 weeks 298+/-21um) Our results suggest that the prevention of testicular damage is needed in the anticancer chemotherapy of the reproductive age group because testicular damage is significant during pubertal age.