Abstract:
Male Wister albino rats were exposed to artemether by gavage at dosages of 25, 50 and 75 mg kg-1 day-1 for 1, 2 and 3 days. The control groups received sterile water (control 1) and 5% ethanol (vehicle for artemether, control 2). The maximum volume injected in all groups was 0.5 mL. Rats administered the highest dose for three days were mated with female rats to determine the fertilizing capacity of their epididymal sperms and fertility status. Artemether significantly reduced (p<0.05) the progressive sperm motility, viability, sperm count and serum testosterone levels in dose and duration dependent manners, factors that may impair fertility. None of the untreated cohabited female rats got pregnant throughout the period of the study. These changes were restored in recovery experiments. The results suggest that artemether could induce reversible infertility in rats.
Y. Raji, I.O. Osonuga , O.S. Akinsomisoye , O.A. Osonuga and O.O. Mewoyeka , 2005. Gonadotoxicity Evaluation of Oral Artemisinin Derivative in Male Rats. Journal of Medical Sciences, 5: 303-306.
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