Evaluation of the Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids against Methotrexate Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Albino Mice

Abstract

Antimetabolite drug Methotrexate is the mainstay for the treatment of many neoplastic disorders. However, it should be used with extreme caution because of its likeliness to cause testicular impairment due to the intracellular accumulation and subsequent enhancement of enzyme inhibition. Therefore the present study to evaluate the protective effects of Omega03 fatty acids against methotrexate induced testicular toxicity in male albino mice. The male mice were divided in 5 groups each consisting of 6 mice. The total study is about 20 days. The entire group was treated with single dose of methotrexate inj 20mg/kg, i.p except group I. Group0III, IV & V treated with Omega 03 fatty acids at different doses of 125, 250 & 375mg/kg, p.o. The mating behaviours were monitored, including: mounting frequency (MF), intromission frequency (IF), mounting latency (ML), intromission latency (IL), ejaculatory latency (EL). Testosterone was estimated after blood collected from retro orbital venous plexus of all animals at the 10 th and 20 th day of the experiment. Increase in the sexual vigour of MF, IF, ML, IL & EL were observed in all dosed groups in a dose dependent manner. Hormonal analysis revealed that the levels of testosterone increased gradually in all the experimental groups. Histopathological results showed the lumen of the seminiferous tubule, with the presence of more spermatozoa compare to that of control animal. In conclusion, the methotrexate0induced testicular toxicity was effectively protected by Omega03 fatty acids. There was almost complete recovery of the testes in the Omega03 fatty acids included treatment group. This effect was found to be, the protective effects of Omega03 fatty acids an action that may be due to its antioxidant properties.