This study aims at investigating the effect of metronidazole on reproductive parameters in male rats. Ten male rats (120 – 150 g) were divided into control (distilled water) and metronidazole – treated (400 mg/kg) groups (5 per group) for hormonal assay, andrological and histopathological studies. The animals were orally treated on daily basis for 30 days. Plasma testosterone level was assayed using Enzyme – Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) and semen analysis was done microscopically. Histology of testes was also done. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p=0.05. Treatment of rats with metronidazole caused no significant (p>0.05) changes in body weight relative to the control. Metronidazole caused significant (p 0.05) change in sperm viability relative to the control but produced significant (p<0.05) increase in percentage abnormal sperm morphology relative to the control. It also caused mild erosion of the germinal epithelia. These findings revealed that metronidazole probably cause deleterious effect on the reproductive parameters in male albino rats.
展开▼
