Early effect of the anticancer drug biocarbazin (DTIC synonym) on mice spermatogenesis

Biocarbazin (DTIC synonym) is an anticancer drug acting as a purine analogue, as an alkylating agent, as a SH-group blocker. Biocarbazin administration in doses 50 and 200 mg/kg of body weight to adult male BALB/c mice suppresses the process of spermatogenesis. Seminiferous tubule of the testis displayed dose-dependent histological alterations manifested with decrease of mitotically dividing cells and increase in the number of multinucleated spermatocytes and spermatids. RNA synthetic activity studied by means of autoradiography showed a tendency for a reduction in the spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes.