Abstract

This study investigates the effect of chronic use of Phenytoin on male reproductive functions. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were divided into five groups of 12 rats each (A, B, C, D and E). Group A served as the control and was given 0.1 ml of normal saline. Group B and C received 50 mg/Kg of Phenytoin. Group D and E were given 100 mg/Kg of Phenytoin. Administration of the drug was orally and twice daily for four weeks. After the first two weeks of administration, twenty-four mature untreated female rats with proven fertility were cohabited with animals in Group B and with those in Group D, in ratio 1:1. The administration continued for another two weeks during the co-habilitation. At the end of the fourth weeks, the animals in Group B and D were sacrificed. While the animals in Group C and E were allowed to recover for another four weeks, during which they were also tested for fertility, and eventually sacrificed. The results obtained were analyzed using t-test. The results show that Phenytoin significantly (p-value < 0.05) reduced fertility in male rats. Its effects were, however, reversible upon withdrawal.

Key words: Phenytoin, chronic use, reversibly, male fertility, testosterone, Sprague-Dawley rats.