Introduction: The safety of anti-cancer agents on normal tissues has come under examination due to the increase in the usage of these medications. Chlorambucil, which is anticancerous drug is associated with toxic side effects on testes. L-carnitine might have a protective effect against a wide variety of testicular damage that might progress to male infertility.
Aim of the Work: To demonstrate the possible ameliorative action of L-carnitine on chlorambucil-induced testicular damage on rats' testes.
Materials and Methods: 40 adult male albino rats were assigned into four groups; Control group (I); L- carnitine group (II), where rats receiving daily oral dose of L-carnitine (500 mgkg); Chlorambucil group (III), where rats were received chlorambucil orally by gastric tube at a dose of 0.2 mg kg day; and Combined group (IV), where rats were co-administered L-carnitine and chlorambucil. After 21 days, all rats were sacrificed, and their testes were weighted, processed into paraffin blocks, and prepared to be examined under light microscope.
Results: Chlorambucil strongly altered the testicular architecture which was evidenced by seminiferous epithelial vacuolization and rarefaction, germ cell degeneration and the presence of multinucleated giant cells. Also, there was a high percentage of damaged tubules, decreased germinal epithelial height, and absence of sperms in lumina. Histological examination of sections from combined group showed a considerable amelioration of testicular damage and vacuolations reflected by a statistically significant decline in damaged tubules count. Additionally, there was a significant increase in testicular weight and germinal epithelial height when compared to the chlorambucil group.
Conclusion: L- carnitine can protect against chlorambucil-induced testicular insult in rats.