FSH and estradiol benzoate administration recover spermatogenesis and sexual hormone levels in a busulfan-injured rat model

AbstractBusulfan induces azoospermia and testicular atrophy, while follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol benzoate (EB) may improve spermatogenesis. Our objective was to determine the effects of FSH and EB on the recovery of spermatogenesis, histology, sexual hormones, and testicular gene expression in the testis of a busulfan-injured rat model. Forty adult rats were assigned into eight groups. Half received a single intraperitoneal saline or 30  mg/kg busulfan injection, and 42 days after, the animals received intramuscular injections for 10 days: 1 ml saline, 7.5 IU FSH, and 12 μg/kg EB or FSH+EB. One day after, blood plasma was obtained for hormone analysis, sperm was recovered from epididymis, and testes were processed for histol ogy and RNA extraction. Busulfan decreased sperm count, motility, and viability; induced seminiferous tubular atrophy; and decreased blood testosterone, FSH, and luteinizing hormone. Hormonal treatments partially recovered spermatogenesis, decreasing tubular atrophy. They also decreased caspase 3 an diNOS expression while increasingBcl-2 expression, compared with the busulfan treatment. FSH+EB was the most efficient treatment, also increasing the concentration of sexual hormones close to no-busulfan levels. Thus, busulfan has a clear negative effect in spermatogenesis in the rat model, and FSH and EB, especially combined, could help to reverse these effects.
Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research