5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) induces the formation of giant cells and sloughing of seminiferous epithelium in the rat testis

The chemotherapeutic agent, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been widely used in the treatment of a variety of cancers. Its effect on the testis has not been substantially studied. Present study was conducted to evaluate the gonadotoxicity of 5-FU in male albino rats. Animals were injected with single dose of 5-FU (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) and sampled on 1, 3, 15 and 30 day post exposure. Animals were anaesthetised, testes were perfusion fixed by Bouin's fluid. Five micron thick paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Slides were screened for the incidence of partially and extensively sloughed tubules. Data were analysed by Mann Whitney 'U' test. Only 100 mg/kg induced multinucleated cells on 3rd day. All doses of 5-FU induced sloughing of the seminiferous epithelium. Maximum number of partially sloughed tubules were seen on third day. Partial sloughing was not dose dependent except on 15th day. The extensive sloughing was dose dependent except on 30th day. The result indicates that all the doses of 5-FU tested in this study cause sloughing of epithelium and only 100 mg/kg induces the formation of giant cells on third day.