Possible Protective Role of L-carnitine against Cisplatin-induced Testicular Changes in Adult Male Albino Rats: A Histological and Morphometric Study

Background:Cisplatin (CIS) is a famous chemotherapeutic drug. Although its potency, it has serious side effects on organs,including testis.L-carnitine is an amino acid with an encouraging impact. Aim of the work: To assess the CIS effect on the testis of the adult male rat and the protective role of L-carnitine.Material and Methods:30 adult male albino rats were divided into three equal groups. Control group; received 1 ml saline (0.9% NaCl) daily for 30 days via a gastric tube and were injected i.p. with 6 ml saline on the 27^th day. CIS-treated group; received 1 ml saline daily for 30 days via a gastric tube and on the 27^th day, they were injected with a single dose of CIS (7.5 mg/kg body weight; i.p). CIS+L-carnitine-treated group; was treated with L-carnitine (100 mg/kg body weight /day) via a gastric tube for 30 days and on the 27^th day, they received a single dose of CIS (7.5 mg/kg body weight; i.p.). At the end of the experiment (on the 30^th day), the rats were sacrificed. The left testes were extracted, fixed and processed for histologic and morphometric studies. Results:The seminiferous tubules were deformed with marked depleted Sertoli and germ cells, the interstitial tissue was shrunken, and the seminiferous tubular diameters and epithelial heights were morphometrically decreased in the CIS group. Administration of L-carnitine markedly attenuated these CIS-induced testicular injury. Conclusion: L-carnitine has a protective role versus CIS-provoked damaging effects on the testis.