Investigating the protective effect of taurine on levels of oxidative stress, testosterone and sperm parameters against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in NMRI male mice

Cyclophosphamide is an anti-tumor drug, widely used in the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and organ transplants, which has severe side effects on fertility. This study was performed to investigate the protective role of taurine, as an antioxidant, against the toxicity of cyclophosphamide. In this experiment, adult male NMRI mice were divided into four groups (n=۶): control, taurine (۱۰۰ mg / kg gavage administration per day), cyclophosphamide (۱۰۰ mg / kg intraperitoneal injections per week) and finally cyclophosphamide + taurine group. After ۳۵ days of treatment, mice were sacrificed. Serum and sperm samples of each mouse were collected and biochemical factors, sperm parameters such as count, motility, morphology, viability, membrane integrity, sperm nucleus maturation and DNA damage and also serum levels of testosterone, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated. A significant decrease in sperm parameters, levels of testosterone and total antioxidant capacity and also a significant increase in the serum level of malondialdehyde were observed in the cyclophosphamide group compared to the control, whereas Sperm abnormalities and malondialdehyde levels reduced significantly in the cyclophosphamide + taurine group when compared to the cyclophosphamide group. Our data also showed a significant increase in the levels of testosterone and TAC in the cyclophosphamide + taurine group compared to the cyclophosphamide group (p<۰.۰۵). No significant difference was observed in the amount of DNA damage and Sperm nucleus maturation in the cyclophosphamide group compared to the control group (p>۰.۰۵). We conclude that taurine is effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress.