[Evaluation of the effects of streptomycin and ofloxacin antibiotics on leydig cell apoptosis in rat]

ABSTRACT

Streptomycin and ofloxacin are synthetic antibacterial agents of aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones groups respectively which are effective against gram-negative bacteria and urinary tract infectious diseases and used in many countries in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of these drugs on leydig cell apoptosis by use of TUNEL assay in rats. Thirty male wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups; control [n=10] and tests [n=20]. The test groups received 40 mg/kg [IP] streptomycin, and 72 mg/kg [PO] ofloxacin daily for fourteen days; however the control group just received vehicle [normal saline] intraperitoneally. On the fourteenth day the testis tissue of the rats in all groups were removed, fixed in 10% formaline and prepared for light microscopic examination and the Terminal Uridine Nick End Labeling [TUNEL] technique was used to identify apoptosis. The statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA test. The number of leydig cells undergone apoptosis in streptomycin, oflaxacin and control groups were [2.15 +/- 11.14], [6.15 +/- 8.17] and [1.01 +/- 0.41] respectively which revealed a significant difference. In our study the number of apoptotic cells in streptomycin group was less than that of ofloxacin group [p < 0.05]. Therefore use of streptomycin carries fewer risk of producing infertility in male rats