IMPACT OF DUTASTERIDE ON SPERMATOGENESIS AND OXIDATIVE STATUS IN RATS

OBJECTIVES: Although the association between 5 alpha reductase inhibitors used for the treatment of both androgenetic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia and their side effects is well established, the impact of dutasteride on testicular structure is not clear. To evaluate the alterations in spermatogenesis and serum FSH, LH, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone concentrations along with the oxidative status in testes and blood of the rats treated with daily dutasteride. METHODS: A total of 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats have been divided into 2 groups as control (n=8) and dutasteride (n=10). After chronically administered, rats were sacrificed and their testes were harvested for histopathological and biochemical evaluation. Johnsen's criteria were used to assess spermatogenesis. Serum hormone concentrations and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in both testicular tissue and serum were measured by ECLIA and ELISA, respectively. Results were compared with Mann- Whitney U test. RESULTS: DHT (7.35 +/- 0.35 vs. 10.54 +/- 0.95, p<0.001) and LH levels (0.32 +/- 0.009 vs. 0.43 +/- 0.01, <0.001) were significantly lower in treatment group compared with controls whereas testosterone levels were higher in dutasteride arm (3.41 +/- 1.12 vs. 1.52 +/- 0.34, p<0.001). Johnsen score, serum FSH levels, serum and tissue ROS levels were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, administration of dutasteride does not appear to modify spermatogenesis and oxidative burden in rats. Further investigations are required to confirm our findings.