CHANGES IN THE CONTENT OF RAT EPIDIDYMAL FLUID INDUCED BY PROLONGED TREATMENT WITH TAMOXIFEN

Prolonged treatment with tamoxifen induces changes in the male reprodu ctive tract in rats. In this study changes in the protein content of t he rat epididymal fluid as a consequence of prolonged treatment with t amoxifen are reported. Among five lysosomal enzymes measured in the ep ididymal fluid, alpha-mannosidase (alpha-MAN) significantly diminished , but other enzymes did not. Electrophoretic analysis of fluids showed that proteins of estimated molecular weight 25, 60, 80-85 and 180 kDa decreased in the treated rats. We also detected an increase in the bi nding of beta-galactosidase (beta-GAL) to caudal spermatozoa in treate d rats. These changes may be related in part to the loss of fertilizin g capacity of spermatozoa after tamoxifen treatment.