Evaluation of the Testosterone Administration Accompaning with Sonotherapy on the Number and Function of Sperms in Mature Male Mice

Efforts to develop new methods for a safe male contraceptive have been made during recent decades, but the most reliable method is still sterilization by vasectomy. In this experimental study, effects of administration of testosterone in combination with ultrasound on contraceptive male mice were studied. 28 mature male mice were randomly divided into the following groups: normal group, testosterone group, ultrasound group and testosterone-ultrasound group. Animals were injected with or exposed to normal saline, testosterone enanthate, ultrasound and testosterone enanthate in combination with ultrasound respectively for 6 weeks. After this period, viability, motility rate and number of sperms were assessed. The morphometric parameters such as tubular diameter were also studied. In the testosterone group, the number of sperms decreased significantly in comparison to the 1st and the 3rd groups (P ≤0.01). The percentage of sperm viability was significantly decreased in the testosterone group comparing to other two groups (P ≤0.001). In concern to the percentage of sperm motility, a significance difference was not observed. The diameter of seminiferous tubules and the number of spermatogonia were changed in ultrasound group. In this group, the compacted seminiferous tubules were seen, so the number of counted cells was increased. In the testosterone group, the epithelium height decreased significantly. It seems that the ultrasound did not have effect on the absorption of testosterone and the histological changes resulting from ultrasound may be mechanical and thermal.