Dexamethasone Effects on Morphometric Epididymis and Deferens Duct on Mouse

Dexamethasone is a widely use glucocorticoid and its prescription has been increased during the recent years. In the present study the effects of dexamethasone on the reproductive system of male mice was investigated. In this experimental study، 50 adult male NMRI mice were randomly divided into five groups as experimental، sham and control. Experimental groups were given dexamethasone at a dose of 4 mg/ kg، 7 mg/ kg and 10 mg/ kg respectively by intraperitoneally injection on 7 consecutive days. Sham group was injected with saline while control group received nothing. One day after the last injection، all animals were anesthetized. The mice and their testes were weighed. After preparation of microscopic slides، height of the epididymis and deferens epithelium was determined using Image tool software. The data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and Scheffe test. The mean height of epididymis and deferens duct epithelium in experimental groups significantly decreased compared to sham and control group (p=0. 001). Meanwhile، the severity of this reduction was dose-dependent and in 7 mg/ kg group was significantly reduced. Although، the mean testicular weight of mice in experimental groups showed no significant differences compared to control group the mean weight of animals only in 7 mg/ kg group significantly decreased compared to sham and control group (p=0. 042). The present study indicated that repeated injections of dexamethasone resulted in detrimental effects on the reproductive system by numerous changes in the epididymis and deferens duct and fertility of male mice consequently.