Does baclofen induce changes in testicular histology and seminal fluid analysis in rat ?

Abstract EN

Baclofen has a central acting effect, so clinicians have been utilized it chiefly for treating the spasticity of spinal origin.

Nowadays, off-labeling use of baclofen with high doses is frequently increased.

Despite of the extensive research studies on the effectiveness of baclofen, the reports on its histological effects on testes and on sperm parameters we insufficient.

This work aims to assess the histological influences of baclofen on rats' testes and on several sperm characteristics after administration for 8 weeks.

Twenty-two male rats at age of peripuberty (8weks) that were categorized into two groups.

Group I (control group) includes 10 rats which were gavaged with 1 ml/day of distilled water daily.

Group II (baclofen's group) includes 12 rats which were received baclofen 14.5 mg/kg for 8 weeks via gavage.

At the end of the designed work, euthenization was done and the testes were excised from each rat, the epididymis samples were obtained and prepared for examination under light microscope.

This study revealed that rats that were administered with 14.5mg/kg/day of baclofen for 8 weeks showed changes in the sperms parameters with several testicular histological alterations in their sections in comparison with those of controls.

The percentage of the live sperms of rats (baclofen's group was lower than that of control group).

Features of sloughing inside seminiferous tubules' lumen are frequently seen among these sections with mild decrease in the diameter of seminiferous tubules.

Evidence of decreased Johnsen's scores (spermatogenic index -SI) was noticed in some sections, and decreasing of the frequency of seminiferous tubules that possess spermatozoa was obviously noticed.

Moreover, disorganization of seminiferous tubules is shown in these sections.

In addition, sections of rats of baclofen group revealed features of necrosis of seminiferous tubules, presence of degenerated spermatogenic layer, features of apoptosis, and presence of gaps in the seminiferous epithelium of degenerated tubules.

Different alterations of sertoli cells as vacuolation, and detachment sertoli cells are noticed in sections of rats that were administered with baclofen.

The chronic administration of rats with 14.5 mg/kg with baclofen induced effects on sperm parameters and testicular histology.

however, the testicular histological alterations were more obvious.

Further works are needed to clarify mechanism that stands behind these effects.