Effects of cisplatin on testicular functions in rats.

ABSTRACT

In adult male rats serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were determined following treatment with cisplatin [cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)] for 3 alternate days, in order to study the effects of cisplatin on pituitary-testicular axis and subsequent effects on spermatogenesis. The decreased levels of testosterone with elevated FSH and LH levels in CDDP-treated rats are indicative of intact pituitary-testicular axis. The quantitation of spermatogenesis by flow cytometric analysis revealed that various germ cell populations and kinetics of spermatogenesis remain unchanged in CDDP-treated rats. Thus, CDDP treatment has been shown to decrease testosterone production in the testis without affecting the functional status of spermatogenic compartment.