Evaluation of effects of repeated sevoflurane exposure on rat testicular tissue and reproductive hormones

• Published in: Inhalation toxicology Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 192 - 198
• Main Authors: Kaya, Ziya, Sogut, Erkan, Cayli, Sevil, Suren, Mustafa, Arici, Semih, Karaman, Serkan, Erdemir, Fikret
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare USA, Inc 01.03.2013; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Anesthetics, Inhalation - toxicity; Animals; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; FSH; inhibin; Inhibins - blood; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Methyl Ethers - toxicity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; sevoflurane; sperm; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - physiology; testis; Testis - drug effects; Testis - pathology; Testosterone - blood
• ISSN: 0895-8378; 1091-7691
• DOI: 10.3109/08958378.2013.773109

Abstract Context: Evaluation of inhalation anesthetics on sperm and reproductive hormones are extremely important. Objective: Investigation of the effects of sevoflurane used as an inhalation anesthetic on sperm morphology and reproductive hormones in rat testes. Materials and methods: Forty Wistar-Albino male rats were divided into five groups of eight rats each. The control group received 2 L/min oxygen for seven days, 2 h/day while sevoflurane treatment S1 received 1 minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) sevoflurane + 2 L/min oxygen for seven days, 2 h/day, and sevoflurane S2 received 1 MAC sevoflurane + 2 L/min oxygen for seven days, 2 h/day followed by seven days of no treatment. Sevoflurane treatment S3 received 1 MAC sevoflurane + 2 L/min oxygen for 14 days, 2 h/day and sevoflurane treatment S4 received 1 MAC sevoflurane + 2 L/min oxygen for 14 days, 2 h/day, with no treatment for the following seven days. All rats were examined histologically after experimental procedures. Rat luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), and inhibin levels were measured. Results: Histological injury scores were significantly higher in S2, S3, and S4 receiving sevoflurane in comparison to the control group (p = 0.001, <0.001, and 0.001, respectively). Sperm motility and concentration decreased in S3 and S4 compared to the control group (p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Significant differences were detected among all groups for serum LH, FSH, T, and inhibin serum concentrations (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Testicular and sperm morphology, and reproductive hormones were affected by chronic exposure to sevoflurane. However, more randomized, controlled, and well-designed clinical studies with larger population are needed to confirm of these results.