Differential Susceptibility of Immature Rat Testes to Doxorubicin at Critical States of Maturation

摘要

The toxic effects of doxorubicin on the reproductive system of the male rate were studied at different susceptible stages of postnatal development. A multidisciplinary approach including the assessment of histopathological, functional, and biochemical parameters was chosen. Groups of male rats were treated once with the compound (3 mg/kg) on postnatal day 6, 16, 24 or 45. Initial toxicity was observed in the group treated at 24 days of age; particularly, low reproductive organ weights and low sperm counts were found. These findings proved reversible towards the end of the study. Neither biochemical nor functional impairment of the reproductive system could be observed in the group treated at 45 days of age. (Copyright (c) Springer-Verlag, 1987.)