Effects of antiepileptic drugs carbamazepine and sodium valproate on fertility of male rats

The effects of carbamazepine and sodium valproate on fertility of male rats were studied. The tested drugs were given orally to male rats for 30 and 60 consecutive days. Mating performance, sex organs weights, semen quality, plasma concentrations of sexual hormones as well as histopathological findings were the criteria used to evaluate the reproductive efficiency of treated males. Oral administration of carbamazepine and sodium valproate for 30 and 60 consecutive days significantly decreased the testicular weight, sperm cell concentration, live sperms and percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa. Both drugs significantly increased the percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. A decrease in plasma testosterone, FSH and LH and an increase in prolactin levels were observed in the treated groups. Histopathological examination showed mild to moderate degenerative changes in the testes of the treated rats while the prostate glands and seminal vesicles appeared normal. A recovery period of 30 days was accompanied by marked changes in the tested parameters towards initial values.