Effect of testosterone on cisplatin-induced testicular damage

The present study investigated whether testosterone supplementation overcame testicular damage caused by cisplatin. A group of Wistar rats was given 8 mg cisplatin/kg body weight, another group was given cisplatin plus testosterone, and a third group was given the vehicle only. Animals were sampled after 5 days and testicular cells were scored at stage VII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle to measure drug-induced damage. Preleptotene primary spermatocytes and step 7 and step 19 spermatids were significantly reduced in number in the cisplatin group by 21, 20, and 28% respectively, but no reductions were recorded in testosterone-supplemented rats. Other cell types present in stage VII were unaffected by treatment in all groups. These results suggest that cisplatin retards spermatogenesis by inhibiting testosterone production, since concomitant testosterone therapy prevents cellular damage. Although data supporting this conclusion are clear-cut, their interpretation may not be so, especially in view of some reports suggesting minor germ cell loss at stage VII upon testosterone withdrawal. Probably of equal or more importance is the direct action of cisplatin on dividing germ cells through DNA binding.