Title:The Protective Effect of Metformin against Oxandrolone-Induced Infertility in
Male Rats
Volume: 28
Issue: 4
Author(s): Abdulqader Fadhil Abed, Yazun Bashir Jarrar*, Hamzeh J Al-Ameer, Wajdy Al-Awaida and Su-Jun Lee
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman,Jordan
Keywords:
CYP11A1, metformin, infertility, oxandrolone, rats, testes.
Abstract: Background: Oxandrolone is a synthetic testosterone analog that is widely used among bodybuilders
and athletes. However, oxandrolone causes male infertility. Recently, it was found that metformin reduces the
risk of infertility associated with diabetes mellitus.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of metformin against oxandrolone-induced infertility
in male rats.
Methods: Rats continuously received one of four treatments (n=7) over 14 days: control DMSO administration,
oxandrolone administration, metformin administration, or co-administration of oxandrolone and metformin.
Doses were equivalent to those used for human treatment. Subsequently, testicular and blood samples were collected
for morphological, biochemical, and histological examination. In addition, gene expression of the testosterone
synthesizing enzyme CYP11A1 was analyzed in the testes using RT-PCR.
Results: Oxandrolone administration induced male infertility by significantly reducing relative weights of
testes by 48%, sperm count by 82%, and serum testosterone levels by 96% (ANOVA, P value < 0.05). In addition,
histological examination determined that oxandrolone caused spermatogenic arrest, which was associated
with 2-fold downregulation of testicular CYP11A1 gene expression. However, co-administration of metformin
with oxandrolone significantly ameliorated toxicological alterations induced by oxandrolone exposure (ANOVA,
P-value < 0.05).
Conclusion: Metformin administration provided protection against oxandrolone-induced infertility in male rats.
Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the protective effect of metformin against oxandrolone-induced
infertility among athletes
