Adverse Effects of Vincristine Chemotherapy on Cell Changes in Seminiferous Tubules and Cetrorelix GnRH Antagonist Inhibitory Effects in Mice

The present study was designed to determine changes in spermatogenesis in adult mice after an intraperitoneal injection of vincristine. The effect of a GnRH antagonist synchronous to chemotherapy, which might protect spermatogenesis by halting cell division in spermatogenic cells, was also investigated. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 30 adult male mice were studied in three equal groups of ten. In the V group, a single dose of the chemotherapy drug vincristine was injected intraperitonally at 1.5 mg/kg. In the V+C, group, the injection of Cetrorelix was started, and one week before to one week after vincristine injection continued (for 3 weeks). Controls received no treatment. Samples were taken from the testicles, and fixed in Boueins fixative for light microscopy. RESULTS: Comparing the mean number of Sertoli and spermatogony cells and the rate of spermatogenesis index (SI) in the V group with controls showed significant differences, which were not evident in the V+C group. CONCLUSION: According to the results, the cetrorelix antagonist (GnRH) could largely prevent side effects of vincristine administration regarding seminiferous tubules.