Effects of testosterone treatment on recovery of rat spermatogenesis after irradiation

Objective: To determine the effects of two different radiation doses on sperm parameters and the role of testosterone treatment on rat spermatogenesis. Methods: The experimental animal study was conducted at Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey, from September 2012 to January 2013. Male Sprague Dawley 4-6 months old rats weighing 300-350g were randomely divided into 5 equal groups as control, low dose irradiation, testosterone administration following low dose irradiation, high dose irradiation, and testosterone administration following high dose irradiation. The animals were kept at a constant temperature in a room with 12h light and dark cycles. After the group-wise intervention, sperm concentration, testicular size, and histopathological examination of seminiferous tubules were noted. SPSS 10 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The 40 rats in the study were divided in 5 groups of 8(20%) each. In low dose radiation, adverse effects were only temporarily observed with the return of almost normal testicular function at the end of two months with or without testosterone supplementation. In contrast, in high dose radiation, hormonal treatment effect was controversial. Conclusion: Testosterone treatment had no significant effect upon recovery after irradiation. In order to prevent the untoward effects of radiation, shielding of the remaining testis in a proper manner is crucial to avoid the harmful effects of the scattered radiation.