Methamphetamine induces abnormal sperm morphology, low sperm concentration and apoptosis in the testis of male rats

Methamphetamine has been reported to be an important drug in the field of reproductive toxicology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methamphetamine administrations on sperm morphology, sperm concentration and apoptotic activity inside seminiferous tubule in male rats. Rats were administered a dose of 8 mg kg(-1), intraperitoneally (IP), for acute group and a dose of 4 mg kg(-1), IP, once daily for 14 days for sub-acute group. Percentage of normal sperm morphology was decreased in acute group when compared with control. Total numbers of sperm count were significantly decreased in acute and sub-acute groups. Apoptotic activities were most abundant in the seminiferous tubules of acute treated animals with a highly significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells per tubule. Those effects of methamphetamine seem to be dose-dependent. The results suggest that methamphetamine not only works as drug of abuse in central nervous system, but also in gametogenesis of males.