Introduction: Tramadol is one of the most common analgesic drugs in chronic pain treatment. Their mechanism of action is through the inhibition of the noradrenaline and serotonin (5-HT) transmission reuptake. Vardenafil is used to treat male sexual function problems like erectile dysfunction.
Objective: The present work aimed to evaluate the biochemical and testicular histopathological changes induced by tramadol and/or vardenafil administration in adult male Swiss mice and investigate the associated impact of tramadol and vardenafil on fertility and reproductive performance.
Materials and Methods: 24 mature male Swiss mice with a body weight of 30-35 g have been divided into 4 groups. (G1) control, (G2) injected i.p with 4.16 mg/kg of tramadol, (G3) injected i.p with 46.8 mg/kg of vardenafil, and (G4) treated with tramadol followed with vardenafil. Sperm samples were collected from cauda epididymis, semen profile examination and abnormalities were recorded. Hormonal analysis, oxidative stress biomarkers, and histopathological studies have been done.
Results: The present study revealed that tramadol and vardenafil synergistically did not altered body weight of mice and not caused change of reproductive organs' weight. Administration of tramadol and vardenafil revealed reduction in mating index and fetal weight. The results indicated that tramadol and vardenafil have a significantly harmful impact on sperm quality, boosted morphological abnormalities, decreased concentration of reproductive hormones, induced testicular histopathological changes, and affected spermatogenesis cycle, decreasing number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, altered antioxidants levels and raised MDA activity.
Conclusion: Intake of tramadol and vardenafil should be for a short period and necessary because of their serious harmful effects on reproductive performance and fertility.