Study of the reversibility of sperm quality after discontinuing nandrolone decanoate in adult male rats

Saied Karbalay-Doust¹, Ali Noorafshan¹, Fakhrodin Mesbah Ardekani¹ and Hossien Mirkhani

¹Anatomy Department, School of Medicine , Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-45794, Iran
²Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71348-45794, Iran

DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2006.00202.3

Abstract
Aim: To analyze the reversibility of the effect of nandrolone decanoate on sperm parameters after discontinuing the drug. Methods: Three groups of rats received peanut oil (control), low and high doses of ND for 14 weeks. Each group was divided into subgroups A and B, which were killed 14 and 28 weeks after initiating the injection, respectively. Results: Sperm count and motile sperm fraction were decreased in the subgroups A and B that received low and high doses of ND in comparison with the control A and B, respectively. The sperm count and motile sperm fraction increased in the subgroups B that received low and high doses of ND in comparison with the related subgroups A. The normal morphology sperm was decreased significantly in the subgroups A of animals that received low and high doses in comparison with the control A. However, this parameter was not decreased in subgroups B in comparison with control B. The normal sperm morphology did not show any significant differences in the subgroups B in comparison with the related subgroups A.  Conclusion: Fourteen weeks injection of low and high doses of ND decreases sperm quality and quantity in rats. These parameters improve after discontinuing ND, but they do not recover completely even when the rats are left untreated for 14 weeks.

Keywords:nandrolone decanoate; sperm count; sperm morphology; sperm motility; rat; anabolic androgenic steroid

Correspondence to: Dr Saied Karbalay-Doust, Anatomy Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Zand Avenue, Shiraz, 71348-45794, Iran
Tel: +98-711-2304-372, Fax: +98-711-2304-372
E-mail: karbalas@sums.ac.ir
Received 2006-03-06 Accepted 2006-06-05