SPERMATOGENESIS FOLLOWING DISCONTINUATION OF CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKER AMLODIPINE IN RATS
Abstract
Background: The calcium channel blockers are commonly associated with male infertility. Long termadministration of such drugs has been shown to suppress spermatogenesis. The present study was
designed to determine the effects of cessation of calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) medication on
spermatogenesis. Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, in
collaboration with Department of Pathology, Army Medical College, and National Institute of Health,
Islamabad from April 2007 to March 2008. Thirty male rats were divided into two groups A and B each
containing 15 rats. Group A rats were given distilled water (vehicle) whereas group B rats were given
amlodipine by oral gavage for 50 days. After 50 days, amlodipine/distilled water was withdrawn. The
rats were left for recovery to take place for another 50 days of drug withdrawal period. Testes were
removed in all the rats and sectioned. The sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and
examined microscopically. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 13. Results: Fifty days after
drug withdrawal, there were statistically insignificant differences in mean tubular diameter and height
of germinal epithelium between amlodipine treated and vehicle treated groups. Conclusion:
Spermatogenesis in amlodipine treated rats does not differ significantly from spermatogenesis in
vehicle treated rats after 50 days of drug withdrawal period.
Keywords: Calcium channel blocker, CCB, amlodipine, male contraception, testicular histology,
spermatogenesis, Dihydropyridine, DHP
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