Evaluation of Spermatogenesisand Apoptosis Rate in Testes of Mice Following Vinblastine and Cetrorelix Co-treatment

Infertility problems affect young couples. One of the known causes of spermatogenic disorder is chemotherapy in patients with cancer. Since Dividing cells are mainly affected by anticancer drugs, the aim of the present study is to investigate the preventive effect of GnRH antagonist on spermatogenic defect produced by anticancer drug. In the present study 30 adult female mice, aging 6-8 weeks were used. The mice were divided into 3 equal groups: control, exp group 1 and exp group 2. In exp group 1, vinblastin was injected intraperitoneally for 5 days at 0.25 mg/kg. In exp group2, Cetrorelix injection in same doseand 3 times in a week, was started one week before vinblastin treatment and continued for 3 more weeks. The mice in all groups were sacrified 3 weeks after the last dose of Cetrorelix injection. Testicular specimens were prepared for LM studies. Microscopic study revealed that in the control group the mean number of sertoli and spermatogonium, were 8.20 ± 0.87 and 56 ± 4.9 respectively. In exp group 1 the mean number of above- mentined cells were 18.6 ± 2.43 and 39.8 ± 2.46. In exp group 2 the mean numbers of above-mentioned cells were 9.2 ± 0.87 and 54.8 ± 3.32. The data showed the difference between control and exp 1 group was significant, but the difference between control and exp2 was not. Spermatogenesis index (SI) and diameter of germinal epithelium in control group were 0.7 ± 0.2 and 168.8 ± 9.42 respectively. In exp group 1 were 0.17 ± 0.1 and 117.8 ± 9.45 but in exp group 2 were 0.62 ± 0.16 and 161.2 ± 8.14. The data showed the difference between control and exp 1 was significant, but the difference between control and exp 2 was not.It is concluded that GnRh antagonist administration before cancer treatment could prevent the side effect of anticancer drugs.