Introduction: Olanzapine is one of the most frequently used antipsychotics that had undesirable effects on male sexual function.
Aim of the work: To explore possible protective effect of omega-3 on olanzapine - induced testicular toxicity.
Material and methods: Forty adult albino rats were used and alienated into four equal groups: I (control), II (omega-3 treated), III (olanzapine treated) and IV (olanzapine +omega-3 treated).Group I received vehicles of olanzapine and omega-3 orally once daily. Group II received 400 mg/kg/day of omega-3 orally. Group III received oral olanzapine 0.5 mg/kg/day. Group IV received a combination of the same mentioned doses of both drugs. After 14 weeks, testicular specimens were taken and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic study.
Results: Group III showed shrunken degenerated seminiferous tubules (ST) with corrugated basement membrane whose lumina were devoid of spermatozoa. Few degenerated spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, elongated spermatids and many Sertoli cells (SCs) were seen. The tubules were separated with wide interstitial spaces and congested blood vessels. Ultrastructural results revealed spermatogonia with degenerated nucleus, loss of nuclear membranes and cell boundaries of primary spermatocytes. Elongated spermatids appeared abnormal in shape with defects in acrosomal cap. A high significant decrease in mean ST diameter, height of germinal epithelium while a high significant increase in SCs count and number of caspase-3 immunopositive cells were observed. Group IV showed improvement of the previously mentioned results.
Conclusion: Omega-3 could protect against olanzapine induced testicular toxicity therefore; it can be used as an adjuvant therapy with antipsychotic drugs.