Abstract

CAN MONTELUKAST, THROUGH ITS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND AUTOPHAGY MODULATION CHARACTERISTICS, SHOW AN EFFECT ON TESTICULAR WEIGHT AND SPERM COUNT IN CAUDA EPIDIDYMIS?

Ahmed M. Awad*, Sally L. Elshaer, Rania R. Abdelaziz and Manar A. Nader

ABSTRACT

Hyperglycemia induces testicular atrophy and male infertility. We investigated the effect of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor (CysLTR)1 antagonism by montelukast on diabetes induced testicular complications. Streptozotocin (STZ, one dose 55 mg/kg)-induced diabetic (SD) rats were administered montelukast (10 and 20 mg/kg, orally) for 8 weeks. After that, both testicles from each animal were weighted and divided by the weight of animal. Sperms were also collected from cauda epididymis and were suspended in 2 ml normal saline at room temperature to be used immediately for sperm analysis. Montelukast showed protection against diabetes induced testicular atrophy, as evidenced by testicular weight index. On the other hand, it was unable to increase the sperm count in cauda epididymis at our time point of evaluation. The well-established antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and autophagy stimulation characteristics of montelukast can explain its effect against diabetes induced testicularatrophy.

Keywords: Montelukast, testicular atrophy, Sperms count.