Stereological evaluation of testes in busulfan-induced infertility of hamster

Cytotoxic medications can influence spermatogenesis at least temporarily and in some cases permanently. Busulfan is a cytotoxic bifunctional alkylating agent which inhibits cell division by sticking to DNA strands. This study aims to stereologically evaluate the testes in busulfan-induced infertility of azoospermic albino hamsters. Eighteen male adult albino hamsters were randomly divided into 3 equal groups. The first group received just one dose of busulfan (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, Busilvex^®, France), the second group received two doses of busulfan with 21-days interval, and the control group left identically without any busulfan therapy. On day 35 postinjection, the testes of all animals were removed for histological evaluation and also for stereological indices. Lumen, cellular and total diameters, luminal, cellular and cross-sectional areas, number of tubules per unit area of testis, numerical density of the tubules, and spermatogenesis index in hamsters that received two doses of busulfan were significantly more than the hamsters receiving one dose of busulfan and the control group. Two doses of busulfan injected with 21-days interval could properly induce azoospermia in the experimental hamster model.