[Effects of cyclophosphamide on spontaneous testicular and pancreatic lesions in WBN/Kob rats].

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of cyclophosphamide (CP) on spontaneous pancreatitis and testicular atrophy of WBN/Kob rats. CP was given daily in drinking water to groups of 20 male 6-week-old WBN/Kob rats at doses of 0 (control), 1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg for 20 weeks. The final body weight in the 2.5 mg/kg CP group was significantly lower than that in the control group. There were no significant differences in blood glucose levels and weights of the pancreas and testis between groups. On histopathological examinations, pancreatitis and testicular atrophy were noted in each group. However, the incidence of pancreatitis characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis in the 2.5 mg/kg CP group was significantly decreased as compared to the control group. In contrast, testicular atrophy was more severe in the 2.5 mg/kg CP group than in the control group. Thus the results demonstrated that CP has inhibitory effects on the development of pancreatitis and enhancing effects on the development of testicular atrophy in WBN/Kob rats.