Dear Sir,
    
    5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been widely used clinically in the treatment for malignancies. Even though it has long been proved to be a gonadotoxic and mutagenic agent, its effect on sperm morphology has not been well documented in the literature. In our study, 60 male adult albino rats (170 g ~ 200 g) were divided into 4 groups: a control group and 3 treated groups receiving 10 mg·kg-1·day-1, 20 mg·kg-1·day-1 and 30 mg·kg-1·day-1 of 5-FU, i.p., respectively, for five days. Each group was then divided into three sub-groups of five rats each for obtaining sperm samples at 35 days, 42 days or 70 days post exposure. Epididymal sperm smears were then prepared, stained with eosin-Y and examined under a microscope to differentiate the sperm morphology. Data were analyzed by Mann Whitney U test. Results indicated a dose-dependent increase (P<0.01) in the number of abnormal spermatozoa with the highest rate of abnormality on day 42. The different types of abnormalities included amorphous, coiled, double headed, double tailed and double headed/double tailed spermatozoa. We previously confirmed the toxic effects of 5-FU on the testis, causing germinal cell sloughing, tubular atrophy and a decline in sperm concentration [1-4]. An increase in the number of abnormal spermatozoa had the potential to adversely affect male fertility. This teratozoospermic effect may be genotoxic, as 5-FU is a potent DNA alkylating agent. The decreased level of testosterone on exposure to 5-FU, as reported earlier by Takizawa and Horii [5], supported the present finding of sperm abnormality. The present study confirmed that 5-FU adversely affected the morphology of spermatozoa, resulting in both head and tail anomalies.
    
    Urban J. A. D'Souza
    Department of Physiology
    School of Medical Sciences
    University Sains Malaysia
    16150, Kubang Kerian
    Kelantan, Malaysia
    E-mail: dsouza@kb.usm.my

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