Reproductive toxicity of sodium valproate in male rats

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of sodium valproate on rat sperm morphology, sperm count, motility, and histopathological changes in testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (12 week old) were treated with sodium valpraote and sacrificed at the end of 2(nd), 4(th), 5(th), 7(th), 10(th) and 15(th) week after the last exposure to sodium valproate. Epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, and histopathology of testes were analyzed. RESULTS: Sperm count and sperm motility were decreased significantly by sodium valproate. The percentage of abnormal sperms increased in a dose-dependent manner. A histopathological study revealed that sodium valproate had caused sloughing of epithelial cells in testes. CONCLUSION: Sodium valproate causes reversible change in sperm motility, sperm count, morphology, and cytoarchitecture of testes.