ABSTRACT
Background: Cyclophosphamide [CP] is a chemotherapy drug which causes deleterious effects on testicular tissue and increases free radicals in the body. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effects of ethyl pyruvate [EP] on testicular improvement in CP treated animals
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 15 male mice [6-8 weeks] were divided into 3 groups. The control group received normal saline [0.1 ml/day] intraperito-neal [IP], CP group received CP [15 mg/kg/week, IP], and the CP+EP group received EP [40 mg/kg/day, IP] plus CP. After 35 days, we assessed serum total antioxidant capacity [TAC] along with histomorphometric and histochemical analyses of the testicles
Results: The mean thickness of the germinal epithelium, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and the number of Leydig cells in the CP+EP group were higher than those of the CP group [P<0.05]. The number of the mast cells in the CP+EP group significantly reduced compared with the CP group [P<0.05]. Alkaline phosphatase [ALP], periodic acid-schiff [PAS] positive reactions and lipid granules in cytoplasm of the Leydig cells in the CP group increased compared with the other groups [P<0.05]. TAC in the CP group significantly reduced compared with the other groups [P<0.05]
Conclusion: This study showed the ability of EP to reduce the destructive side effects of CP in the adult mice reproductive system