REGULATION OF MALE-FERTILITY BY PYRIMETHAMINE IN ADULT MICE

Studies were carried out to determine the antifertility and reversibil ity effect of pyrimethamine (PYR) in adult male mice. The parameters m ainly included sperm count and motility, fertility, histoarchitecture of testis and testicular cell kinetics quantitatively following oral a dministration of PYR (50 mg/kg body weight per day) for 30 days. The s ame parameters were also studied in PYR-treated animals which were all owed to recover for 45 days (recovery group). The results suggest that sperm motility as well as counts were significantly decreased in PYR- treated animals, and the fertility rate fell to zero. Testicular histo logy as well as germ cell kinetics were altered. However, in the anima ls of the recovery group, all the parameters studied were more or less similar to those of control animals. The study demonstrates the antif ertility as well as reversible efficacy of PYR.