Comparison of the effects of mycophenolate mofetil alone and with testosterone on sperm, sex hormones and antioxidant enzymes in male rats

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressant drug which is used to inhibit organ transplant rejection and to treat autoimmune diseases. Theoretically, such medications have spermatotoxic and genotoxic effects. However, evidence on the effects of MMF on fertility is limited and controversial.This study evaluated the effects of MMF and testosterone on sperm, sex hormones and antioxidant enzymes in male rats. In this experimental study 24 adult male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice randomly divided into 3 groups: 1- saline serum (control), 2- MMF and 3- MMF along with testosterone by subcutaneous injection, for 65 days. Change in body weight, sperm quality (concentration, motility and morphology), serum level of gonadotropin hormones, and testosterone, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum and epididymis were evaluated. Both MMF treatment groups compared to control showed a decrease in body weight, number and motility of sperm, level of testosterone, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and TAC (P<0.05), and increase of gonadotropin hormones and sperm morphology abnormality (P<0.05). The adverse effects on sperm count and epididymis testosterone levels in the Mycophenolatemofetil +testosterone group was less than the Mycophenolate mofetil group (P<0.05). This study showed that Mycophenolatemofetil has adverse effects on sperm count, gonadotropins , testosterone and antioxidant pathway enzymes, and the use of testosterone cannot reduce the adverse effects of MMF. The adverse effects of Mycophenolate mofetil may be due to a decrease in the level of antioxidants.