Ethambutol induces testicular damage and decreases the sperm functional competence in Swiss albino mice

• Ethambutol has significant toxic effect on testicular function.
• Both prepubertal and adult testes are sensitive to Ethambutol-induced damage.
• Ethambutol reduces the function competence of the spermatozoa.
• Ethambutol decreases testicular GSH level.
• Intratesticular testosterone level is not affected by ethambutol administration.

The present study reports the effect of ethambutol (EMB) on testicular function. Prepubertal and adult male Swiss albino mice were treated with 40, 80, 160 mg/kg body weight of EMB, intraperitoneally, every alternate day for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks gap, mice were sacrificed to collect caudal spermatozoa. EMB treatment resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the testicular weight, sperm count and motility while the percentage of sperm with head abnormalities, immature chromatin (P < 0.001) and DNA damage increased (P < 0.01). In addition, EMB treatment resulted in significant depletion of glutathione (P < 0.05–P < 0.01) and histopathological abnormalities such as large cells, vacuolation of tubules and isolated colonies of spermatogenic cells were observed. Oct4, 17β-Hsd and c-Kit mRNA was marginally elevated in EMB treated testes at the highest dose studied. In conclusion, the result of the present study indicates that EMB has adverse effect on testicular function and impairs the sperm functional competence.