Effect of flunixin meglumine on fertility of male rats

ABSTRACT

The effect of flunixin meglumine [FM] in doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg b. wt. on reproduction in rats were studied. The tested doses were given daily intramuscularly to male rats for 65 days. Sex organs weights, anal semen picture, testosterone, FSH and LH hormone levels as well as mating performance were the criteria used to evaluate the reproductive efficiency of treated rats. Prolonged i.m. administration of FM for 65 days to male rats, significantly decreased the weights of most genital organs, sperm cell concentration, sperm motility and live sperm% associated with an increase in the percentages of dead and morphological abnormal spermatozoa of treated rats. A decrease in plasma testosterone level and increase in plasma LH and FSH levels was observed in the treated groups. Administration of the tested drug to male rats decreased their ability to mate females. Moreover, the number of viable feti in some pregnant rats was significantly decreased as compared with that of controls