RESUMO
Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment. It is used for the treatment of many cancerous lesions as testicular, bladder and thyroid cancers. It is known to impair spermatogenesis. Vitamin E, as slow acting free radical scavenger, has been shown to ameliorate nephro, oto and neurotoxicities in animals receiving cisplatin. The aim of this study is to evaluate the testicular protective effect of antioxidant supplementation with vitamin E in rats treated with cisplatin. Twenty-five adult male albino wister rats of 200-250mg weight were divided into three groups: Group [I] 5 animals served as a control, group [II]: 10 animals treated with cisplatin twice weekly for one month by intraperitoneal injection in a dose of 4mg/kg. Group [III]: treated with vitamin E by intramuscular injection concomitant with cisplatin injection twice weekly for one month. Animals were sacrificed; specimens were taken from the testis and processed to be examined by light and electron microscopies and semen analysis was performed. Blood samples were collected and prepared for hormonal analysis of LH, FSH and testosterone. Semen analysis was performed. The results obtained showed damaging effects on germ cells, abnormal mitotic figures of spermatogenic cells and malformed spermatozoa. The serum levels of testosterone in animals treated with vitamin E were significantly higher than corresponding levels in control group and group II. As regard semen analysis there was an increase in the number of sperms and an improvement in their movement and activity with vitamin E. This indicates that vitamin E which is an effective antioxidant, protects rat testis against cisplatin-induced destruction and it reversed different cisplatin-associated side effects