Spermatogenic toxicity of vinblastine in albino rats

Since chemotherapeutic drugs are widely and progressively used in the treatment of many malignancies, the present study was planned to investigate spermatogenic toxicity [as an unavoidable side effect] of the chemotherapeutic "vinblastine" in rats in order to minimise spermatogenic toxicity as much as possible. Fifty adult male rats [each weighing 150-200 g] were classified into five groups. The first group was used as a control group being injected intraperitoneally [I.P.] with a special solvent for vinblastine [0.15 ml/100 gm body weight "B.W."] once weekly for two weeks. The remaining four groups were given vinblastine dissolved in its solvent in doses of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg/kg B.W. by the same route for the same period. One week after the last dose, animals were sacrificed, their testes were weighed and then processed for examination by light microscopy. Testes of treated rats showed progressive decline in their weights with increasing the dose. Histopathological microscopy revealed ascending grades of disturbed spermatogenesis i.e. dose dependent toxicity. It could be concluded from the present study that minimising the dose of the chemotherapeutic vinblastine to 0.5 mg/kg B.W. reduces its spermatogenic toxicity to minimum