Effect of Growth Hormone on Testis Tissue and Spermatogenesis Indexes of Testis after Methotrexate Administration in Rat

Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of a variety of tumors and inflammatory diseases. Methotrexate cause defective oogenesis and spermatogenesis, and impair fertility and different pathological changes on testis of laboratory animals. On the other hand, it had been shown that growth hormone (GH) had well-being and conciliation effects on different tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of growth hormone on spermatogenesis indexes of testis after methotrexate administration in rat. In this experimental study, the eighty male wistar rat were selected and randomly divided into eight groups; control (n=20) and treatment (n=60). First and second treatment groups were received 0.3mg/kg GH (IP) for 14 and 28 consequence days, respectively. Third and fourth treatment groups were received 1mg/kg MTX (IP) per week for 14 and 28 consequence days, respectively. Fifth and sixth treatment groups were received 1mg/kg MTX (IP) with 0.3mg/kg GH (IP) (MTX+GH) for 14 and 28 consequence days, respectively. However the first and second control groups just received normal saline (IP) for 14 and 28 consequence days, respectively. In 14th and 28th days, ten rats from each group were sacrificed and testis were sampled and section was provided, and was stained by H&E technique. Then, histologically and spermatogenesis indexes including: tubular differentiation index (TDI), spermiogenesis index (SI), and repopulation index (RI), were studied. Data were analyzed by ANOVA method. Results of the study showed that methotrexate had destructive effects on testis tissue and spermatogenesis in treatment groups compared with control groups. Also, results showed that in these groups TDI, RI and SI had non-significant decreased in 14th days, but in 28th days, TDI, RI and SI significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared with control groups. GH administration alone had non-significant effect on spermatogenesis indexes. In GH+MTX groups, GH caused significantly (p<0.05) amelioration effects on testis tissue and spermatogenesis indexes compared with MTX groups. Results of the study showed that methotrexate caused reduction of spermatogenesis and its indexes in rat testis tissue. This reduction of TDI, SI and RI amount may via the reducing of cell division and toxic effect of methotrexate. Also GH had amelioration effects on testis tissue and spermatogenesis indexes when it used simultaneously with methotrexate. Although the effect of methotrexate on spermatogenesis and fertilization in human needs to more investigation.