Pathophysiological evaluation associated with sustained delivery of danazol and dihydrotestosterone in adult male rodents.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate histologically and pathologically the effect of long-term sustained release of D and DHT on the reproductive system of male rats. A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley male albino rats were distributed equally into three groups. Two CDD, one nonimpregnated and the other impregnated with PLA, were implanted in each rat in groups I and II. Capsules implanted in group I rats were loaded with 20 mg DHT and 20 mg D each. Group II rats were implanted with two empty capsules (sham group), and group III animals served as unimplanted controls. Blood samples were withdrawn weekly via tail artery from all animals. Eight rats from each group were euthanized at the end of the one, three, six, nine, and twelve months following the implantation of the devices. No significant changes in the weights of vital (spleen, kidneys, heart, adrenals, lungs) organs of rats were observed among any of the three different groups. Vas deferens and epididymal fluid were devoid of normal spermatozoa within three months of implanting the D+DHT containing devices. Testes weights decreased significantly in the rats implanted with CDD containing D+DHT and the seminiferous tubules became oligospermic after one month and azoospermic after three months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)