Effect of Cyclophosphamide on ODF1 and ZPBP Gene Expression in Testicular Tissue of Male Wistar Rats

Cyclophosphoma iodine is a DNA-inducing drug with anti-neoplastic properties. One of its most important side effects is changing the function of the reproductive system in males, which may lead to infertility. The ODF gene significantly reduced in infertile men. In spite of the effect of this drug on testicular tissue, there was no work on the expression of ODF1 and ZPBP genes in testicular tissue; this was done for the first time. In this study, 20 adult male Wistar rats weighing 220±30 g were selected and all were fed by standard pellet diet in the group receiving cyclophosphamide: receiving standard pellet with water and cyclophosphamide at a dose of 40 mg/kg. The groups were treated intraperitoneally for 30 days. The expression of ODF1 and ZPBP genes was investigated by Real Time method. The results showed that the expression level of ODF1 and ZPBP genes was significantly different between the control and treatment groups, and according to the calculations performed by the software the statistical data (P≤0.05), SPSS, and one-way ANOVA test, it was concluded that ZPBP and ODF1 gene expression decreased 7.26 and 7.5 times in the group exposed to cyclophosphamide compared to the control group, respectively. Moreover, comparing the number of sperm in the control and treatment groups showed that the number of sperms in the treatment group decreased compared to the control group. Reduced number of sperm may affect the fertility rate of male Wistar rats.