GENERATION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN RAT EPIDIDYMAL SPERMATOZOA AFTER CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE TREATMENT

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an anticancer drug cyclophosphamide (CPA) on generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in epididymal spermatozoa of Wistar rat, Rattus norvegicus. Methods: For this purpose, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with different doses of CPA (5 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg/Kg BW for 2 weeks).Results: Treatment resulted into significantly increased level of ROS in CPA-treated groups when compared to the vehicle-treated control group.Conclusion: The results revealed that CPA has deleterious effect on the sperm morphology and physiology, which is dose and duration dependent and at certain doses cause the production of a number of reactive molecules and free radicals derived from molecular oxygen consequently resulting into adverse effect on the sperm function and hence on reproduction.