RESUMO
The present work was a trial to study the effect of cefotaxime on the reproductive system in male Albino rats. Moreover, some biochemical parameters were also examined. Fourty-five mature male albino rats weighing from 150-160 g each of approximately 120 day old were used in this study. The animals were divided into 3 equal groups, each of 15 rats. The first group was injected I/M for 5 consecutive days with cefotaxime at the dose level of 80 mg/kg B.wt. while the second group was injected with 160 mg/kg B.wt.. The third group was kept as control and injected I/M with 0.2 ml saline/rat for 5 consecutive days. The obtained results showed that administration of cefotaxime induced a variety of side effects on male reproduction as reduction of testes, epididymis and accessory sex organ weight, changes in sperm characters [decrease of sperm count and motility]. Moreover, the liver and kidney functions were significantly affected. Therefore, caution is required when using large doses of cefotaxime due to its toxicity to sperm characters as well as its adverse effect on liver and kidneys