Tamoxifen induced multinucleated cells (symplasts) and distortion of seminiferous tubules in rat testis.

AIM

To evaluate the effect of tamoxifen citrate on male reproductive system of rat.

METHODS

Groups of male rats were gavaged with tamoxifen at doses of 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 400 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) or 800 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) in 0.1 mL olive oil for 10 consecutive days. Controls were treated with 0.1 mL olive oil. Rats were anesthetized and killed on d 3, d 15 or d 35 after the last dose. Testes were collected, processed for paraffin embedding, sectioned at 5 microm thickness, stained with HE and analyzed microscopically.

RESULTS

There was a dose-dependent increase in the occurrence of seminiferous tubular distortion with germinal cell sloughing. The highest dose increased the number of multinucleated giant cells on d 3 and d 15.

CONCLUSION

Tamoxifen citrate induces multinucleated giant cells and germinal epithelial sloughing in a dose-dependent manner and these changes are detrimental to male fertility.