EFFECT OF CARBOPLATIN ON RAT SPERMATOGENESIS

To examine the effect of carboplatin on testicular function, carboplat in was administered to mature male Sprague-Dawley rats. Four weeks aft er carboplatin treatment, the serum level of follicle-stimulating horm one (FSH) significantly increased in animals treated with 30 mg kg(-1) carboplatin (p < 0.02). After 8 weeks of administration, the sperm co unt and motility in the cauda epididymis decreased in the rats treated with 30 mg kg(-1) carboplatin (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). The percentage of a-type tubules and the diameter of seminiferous tub ules were also significantly reduced in the group treated with 30 mg k g(-1) carboplatin (p < 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively). The serum lev els of luteinizing hormone and testosterone were not changed, although the serum level of FSH increased in the animals treated with 20 and 3 0 mg kg(-1) carboplatin (each, p < 0.005). All parameters returned to normal values 12 weeks after the treatment. In conclusion, carboplatin impairs spermatogenesis by possibly damaging the spermatogonia and Se rtoli cells but does not affect the Leydig cell function.