Effect of nitrofurazone on the reproductive organs in adult male mice

Aim: To study the effect of 5-nitro-2-fumldehyde semicarbazone (nitrofurazone), a derivative of nitrofuran, onmale reproductive organs of Parkes (P) swain mice. Methods: Mice were given nitrofurazone orally at a dose of 64mg/kg body weight per day, for 10 and 20 days, and were killed 24 h and/or 56 days after the last treatment. Histo-logical appearance of testis, motility and number of spermatozoa in cauda epididymidis, and biochemical indices in epi-didymis and seminal vesicle were evaluated. Results: Histologically, testis showed marked regressive changes inthe seminiferous tubules in mice treated with nitrofurazone. Ten days after treatment, there was much depletion of germcells in the seminiferous tubules, and the germinal epithelium was lined mainly with Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, sper-matocytes, and a few round spermatids; intraepithelial vacuoles and multinucleated giant cells were also observed intubules. By 20 days, regressive changes in the seminiferous tubules were further pronounced, and pachytene spermato-cytes were the most advanced germ cells noticed in the tubules. In severe cases, the tubules were lined with a thin layerof Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. The treatment also caused marked reductions in the motility and number of sperma-tozoa in the cauda epididymidis, in weight and the level of fructose in the seminal vesicle, and in sialic acid level in theepididymis. Fifty six days after drag withdrawal, the alterations induced in the reproductive organs returned to controllevels. Conclusion: Our results suggest that nitrofurazone treatment in P mice induces marked alterations in themale reproductive organs, and that the alterations are reversible following cessation of treatment.(Asian J Androl 2001 Mar; 3: 39-44)