The Effect of CoQ10 on Testicular Tissue in Rats Treating with Busulfan: Sperm Quality and Histological Changes.

Objective: Busulfan(Bus) is a chemotherapy drug that is widely used for cancer treatment. The protective effect of CoQ10 evaluated on testis and sperm parameters after busulfan treatment. Design: Experimental StudyAnimals: Thirty tow adult male Wistar rats Procedures: In this experimental study 32 adult male Wistar rats have randomly divided into four groups: Control group received normal saline (0.1 mL, daily, intraperitoneally). Sham group received a single dose of busulfan 10 mg/kg, IP. Positive control group received 0.1 mL CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, IP). The treatment group received busulfan along with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, IP). All procedures were continued for 35 days. For histomorphometric analyses, the thickness of testicular capsule, the germinal epithelium height and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules were measured. Semen analysis was used for the assessment of sperm parameters. Results: Histomorphometric analyses showed the thickness of testicular capsule was increased in busulfan groups (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, germinal epithelium height was decreased significantly in Sham and treatment groups (P<0.05). There was a significant decrease in seminiferous tubules diameter in busulfan and treatment groups compared to the control group. In Sham group, the sperm count, motility, viability, nuclear maturation and sperm morphology were significantly decreased compared to control and CoQ10 treated groups (P<0.05). The percentage of sperm with DNA damage in the CoQ10 treated group was significantly increased compared to Sham groups (P<0.05).Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Administration of CoQ10 in busulfan-treated animals improved histological and sperm quality.