[Effects of captopril on the male reproductive organs and various semen parameters of rabbits]

The effect of the administration of captopril on the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Mg and Ca into different organs, on their histological structure and several semen parameters of male rabbits was studied. For 9 weeks 6.5 mgs captopril/kg b.w. were administered daily to 7 months old White New Zealand rabbits p.o. Semen samples were collected at the beginning of the experiment and after 4 and 9 weeks. The animals were sacrificed 9 weeks after the beginning of the experiment and organ samples were collected for histological examination and for the determination of the Zn, Cu, Mg and Ca concentrations in several tissues and the semen samples. The absolute and relative weight of the right and left testes of the test animals revealed a tendency for increase. Absolute and relative weight of the right epididymis and the relative weight of the left epididymis were significantly increased. The concentration of Zn in the blood, of Cu and Ca in the epididymis and of Mg in the testes of the test animals were significantly decreased. A significant increase was observed of the Cu and Mg concentrations in the adrenals. In the semen Cu concentration was significantly increased 9 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. Mg concentration was significantly decreased 9 weeks as compared with 4 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. Histological examination of tissue specimens of brain, liver, kidney, adrenal glands, testes, epididymis, ductus deferens and seminal vesicles from all experimental animals didn't reveal any remarkable lesion under the light microscope. The other semen parameters like volume, motility, sperm number and morphology had not changed. As the values of alcalic and acid phosphatase and ASAT in the semen samples showed many variations, statistical analysis could not be performed.