Authors : K.O. Oyedeji, A.F. Bolarinwa and A. Dare
Abstract: Tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic produced by Streptomyces genus actinobacteria, indicated for use against many bacterial infections. Several studies have reported its effect on protein synthesis and teratogenicity but there is scanty information on its effect on male reproduction. This study was design to investigate the effect of this drug on serum testosterone level and sperm characteristic in male albino rats. Tetracycline (25 mg kg-1 bw) was administered for 30 days for andrological studies. Distilled water (0.5 mL) serves as the control. Serum testosterone level was assayed using Enzyme Link Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and semen analysis was done microscopically, histological analysis of the testis, kidney and liver were also carried out. Data were analysed using the student’s t-test at p<0.05. Treatment of rats for 30 days with 25 mg kg-1 bw of tetracycline caused significant decrease in testosterone (0.16 0.04 ng mL-1; relative to the control 1.38±0.53 ng mL-1). Treatment of rats with tetracycline caused significant decrease in sperm motility and sperm count relative to the control; while, there were no significant change in the values of sperm viability and percentage abnormal morphology relative to the control. There was interstitial oedema in the tests. The results from this study suggest that tetracycline has deleterious effect on male reproductive parameter of albino rats.
K.O. Oyedeji, A.F. Bolarinwa and A. Dare, 2012. Effect of Tetracycline on Reproductive Functions in Male Albino Rats. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 7: 345-349.