Sorafenib Induced Sperm Shape Abnormalities in Male Swiss Albino Mice

Sorafenib is a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor. It inhibits the action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGE) and is an angiogenesis inhibition. Male gonadal toxicity is common complications of modern anti-cancer treatments. Anti-cancer drugs have adverse effects on spermatogenesis. This study was planned to assess the effects of sorafenib on sperm morphology assay. Male Swiss albino mice were segregated into control, positive control and three treatment groups. Positive control received imatinib (100 mg/kg body weight) and treatment groups received 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight of sorafenib orally for seven consecutive days at intervals of 24 hours between two administrations. Control group remained in home cage for equiduration of time to match their corresponding treatment groups. The animals were sacrificed at the end of 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th weeks after the last exposure to drug respectively. Sperms from epididymis were stained as per standard protocol and 1000 sperms per rat were counted and analysed. There was significant increase in head and tail sperm abnormality. Sorafenib does affect on sperm morphology assay significantly, but this effect is reversible once the drug is withdrawn.