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Inhalation Toxicology
International Forum for Respiratory Research
Volume 25, 2013 - Issue 4
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Research Article

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

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Pages 192-198 | Received 12 Sep 2012, Accepted 31 Jan 2013, Published online: 13 Mar 2013
 

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.

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