Protective Effects of Simvastatin against Doxorubicin-Induced Changes in Mice Testicular Tissue

Doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used antineoplastic compound, is associated with testicular damage and infertility. This study was carried out to disclose the possible preventive effects of simvastatin (SIM), a lipid lowering agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, against testicular morphometric-stereological changes due to DOX treatment in mice.
Male mice, five weeks old, were randomly divided into four groups of six mice each. The DOX was administered to two groups of mice in 5 equal intraperitoneal injections over a period of 4 weeks (4 mg/kg). One of these groups received 5 equal oral doses of SIM (12 mg/kg) along with DOX. A vehicle-treated control group and a SIM control group were also included. Morphometric measurement was determined using calibrated ocular micrometer.
Findings: Histomorphometrical examinations revealed significant reductions in the seminiferous tubules diameters and their epithelial heights along with an increase in testicular capsule thickness and interstitial space widening in DOX-treated mice. All above-mentioned parameters recovered significantly by SIM co-administration.
Discussion & These results indicated that SIM may have a preventive role against morphometric-stereological changes caused by DOX in mouse testis.