An in vivo evaluation of induction of abnormal sperm morphology by some anthelmintic drugs in mice

Using the murine sperm-head abnormality test, the mutagenicity of pyrantel pamoate, levamisole, albendazole, mebendazole and niridazole was evaluated. Pyrantel pamoate and niridazole induced increases in sperm-head abnormalities statistically significant over the negative controls at all the dose levels that were considered; the induction was dose-dependent indicating that both drugs might be mutagenic. Levamisole, albendazole, mebendazole and thiabendazole, all were unable to induce statistically significant increases in sperm-head abnormalities over the negative controls at all the dose levels tested; there was no correlation between dose level of administered drugs and incidence of abnormal sperms, indicating that the drugs might not be mutagenic.