Cyclophosphamide Induced Testicular Toxicity – A Comparison Between Acute and Subchronic Doses

Cyclophosphamide (CP), a broad spectrum anticancer drug has been evaluated for its toxic potency on male reproductive system comparing between acute and sub-chronic therapeutic doses.Two groups of Swiss albino mice, one representing the acute and the other one sub-chronic group, were treated i.p. with CP at 50mg/kg and 15mg/kg/week for consecutive 5 weeks, respectively. 35-days post treatment sampling was done after the first administration of CP, by collecting the semen from both the cauda epididymides.The semen sampleswere analyzed for sperm abnormality, count and motility, by following the standard protocols. Gonado-somatic index, i.e., ratio of the body weight to testes weight was also determined.  Both the acute and subchronic doses of CP induced the adverse effects on reproductive system in terms of high frequency of abnormal sperm,  reduction in sperm count and motility at the significant levels when compared with the solvent control (p<0.001).Comparison of the results between acute and subchronic treated groups indicated that the magnitude of the CP-induced effects on sperm morphology, count, and GSI (p<0.05)was statistically found to be higher in the lattergroup. Further, the effect of subchronic dosing was statistically found to be more on the sperm motility (p<0.01).  Thus, subchronic dosing of CP even at a lower dose imparts more toxic effects on the testes and spermatogenesisthan that of the acute higher dose treatment.