Study on producing rats with experimental testicular dysfunction and effects of mecobalamin

Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of mecobalamin (CH3-B12) on disorders of testicular function. Male rats received subcutaneously an injection of doxorubicin (ADR) three times a week for 3, 5 and 7 weeks. Thereafter, they were periodically sacrificed for the examination of cauda epididymal sperm profiles and the morphology of the testis. ADR treatment caused a decrease in sperm counts, sperm motility and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, and an increase in the percentage of abnormal sperms. These damaging effects depended on the dosage and period of treatment with ADR. Based on these findings, rats with testicular dysfunction induced by the treatment with ADR at a daily dose of 0.25 mg/kg, three times a week for 5 weeks were prepared to investigate the effects of CH3-B12 on oligozoospermia. CH3-B12 was given intraperitoneally to the oligozoospermic rats six times a week for 5 and 10 weeks. The results obtained indicated that 1,000 micrograms/kg of CH3-B12 caused a significant increase in both the sperm counts and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules. These results suggest that CH3-B12 is a candidate drug for oligozoospermia.