Study of side effects of busulfan on testis tissue and epididymal sperm of adult mice following treatment with clinical dose

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess side effects of clinical dose of busulfan on testis and epididymal sperm of adult male mouse.
Material and Male adult NMRI mice (25-35 g) were divided into two groups of sixteen each. Control and busulfan treated group were administered 100 μL DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) and 3.2 mg/kg busulfan for 4 days, respectively. The animals were sacrificed 35 days after starting treatment. The histological change on germinal epithelium, sperm quality parameters (count and normal morphology), viability and DNA fragmentation on sperm were analyzed by light microscopy, CASA (Computer–aided Sperm Analyzer), MTT (3-[4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5 Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) and TUNEL assays, respectively.
Busulfan administration significantly decreased parameters of sperm (count and normal morphology) and increased germinal epithelium destruction. The head, mid piece and tail abnormalities of treated group were increased significantly versus control. The lower levels of MTT in treated group were significant compared with control group. Higher levels of TUNEL positive cells that were found in treated groups demonstrated the increasing of DNA fragmentation in sperms following busulfan treatment.
The results showed that clinical dose of busufan induces genotoxic, pre-apoptotic and cytotoxic effects on spermatogenesis. Also, busulfan can increase cytotoxicity on testis tissue of adult male mouse.