Protective effect of Sildenafil on contralateral epididymal sperm concentration and motility following unilateral blunt testicular trauma in pre-pubertal male mice

Blunt testicular trauma adversely affects fertility in later periods. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of sildenafil on contralateral epididymal sperm count and motility following unilateral blunt testicular trauma in mice. In this randomized controlled experimental study, 24 pre-pubertal male mice were distributed into four groups of six mice each. In two groups of mice, the abdomen was opened and the right testis was placed on a sterile firm surface and 5 g sterile weight was dropped on to the testis from a height of 10 cm. One of these groups received sildenafil (0.1 mg/kg per day) intraperitoneally for 7 days starting from the day of induction of trauma. A control group and a sildenafil control group were also included. The left epididymal sperm characteristics of all animals were evaluated after 7 weeks. Trauma caused a significant decrease in the sperm concentration and motility as compared to control mice (P<0.05). Sildenafil administration markedly ameliorated all changes in the above-mentioned parameters (P<0.05). Sildenafil administration could attenuate blunt testicular trauma-induced contralateral epididymal sperm impairment.