Acute exposure to isoflurane impairs sperm parameters in mice

Isoflurane, an inhalational anesthetic from the halogenated group, has been increasingly used in the medical and scientific fields. Due to its characteristics, it is capable of inducing anesthesia quickly and quietly; however, the adverse effects resulting from its use have not yet been fully elucidated, especially with regard to reproductive aspects. Considering its common use in research laboratories, whether for performing surgical procedures or for prior exposure to euthanasia, knowledge about its interference in sperm parameters of experimental models characterizes an important study goal. The aim of the present study was to determine the interference of acute exposure to isoflurane on the sperm quality of mice, both immediately previous to euthanasia and in later evaluation, twenty days after a single anesthetic exposure. Our results demonstrate that acute anesthetic exposure reduces sperm motility and is responsible for the formation of damaged sperm cells that are prone to apoptosis, which may affect the outcome of reproductive experiments even 20 days after exposure.