Effect of tamoxifen on reproduction capability of male Wistar rats

Tamoxifen is a nonstroidal antiestrogen agent which is prescribed for treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of tamoxifen on testosterone concentration and structure of testis in male Wistar rats. In this experimental study One group of rats (45 days old and 90g body weight) received 800 µg/kg b.w tamoxifen dissolved in solvent (consisted of ethanol (60%) and physiological solution) for 10 consecutive days. The sham group received the solvent and controls did not receive any drug or solvent. After treatment period, serum testosterone level of rats was measured by ELISA method and 5µm thickness tissue sections from testes were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. Results showed that testosterone concentration decreased significantly in group which received tamoxifen compared with control group (p<0.01). A significant decrease was observed in testis diameter, thickness of seminiferous tubules and the number of spermatid and sperm cells (p<0.001). According to these results, we concluded that the reproduction capability of adult male Wistar rats decreased significantly in animals which received tamoxifen in prepubertal stage.