Assessment of the Leydig Cells Population in Rat Testicular Tissue Following Treatment with Oxaliplatin

Backgournd: Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) is a third-generation of platinum-based chemotherapies. L-OHP binds to DNA and prevents the DNA replication. It is especially effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer and also other solid tumors such as ovarian, testicular, bladder, and lung cancer. Chemotherapy is one of the risk factors which affect the fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the population of Leydig cells in L-OHP treated rats.Methods: Oxaliplatin was administrated to adult rats (2.4 mg/kg i.p.) four consecutive days per week for duration of three weeks. After 21 days from the last administration of L-OHP, the animals were euthanized and formaldehyde fixed testicular tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin method for quantitative evaluation of Leydig cells number. The mean of counted cells in twenty interstitial tissues per each sample was calculated.Results: The results showed that, the mean of Leydig cells population was decreased significantly in comparison to control group. Discussion: Oxaliplatin is a third-generation of platinum-based chemotherapies which binds to DNA and prevents the DNA replication required for mitosis. Leydig cells in testicular tissue are constantly being divided. According to the results it seems that L-OHP through affecting of S phase of cellular cycle may influence some alterations in Leydig cells population which resulted in decreased fertility.

Keywords:

Leydig Cells , Oxaliplatin , Rat