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. 2023 Apr-Jun;24(2):69–84. doi: 10.18502/jri.v24i2.12491

Table 2.

Summary of the selected studies on protective impact of L-carnitine against busulfan-induced male infertility

Authors Species Treatment Dosage and groups Parameters Results
Dehghani et al. (2012) 20 adult male rats (180±20 gr)

  • - Busulfan (BUS).

  • - L-carnitine (LC).

  • - Testis homogenized tissue (THT)

  • - Busulfan concentration: 10 mg/kg.

  • - L-carnitine: 100 mg/kg/day.

Groups:

  • - Group I (control/MSO).

  • - Group II (BUS).

  • - Group III (BUS+THT).

  • - Group IV (BUS+LC).

  • - Treatment with LC and THT began one day after busulfan injection and continued for 48 days (matching with the rat’s spermatogenesis cycle)

  • - Testis weight and volume.

  • - Plasma testosterone and estradiol levels.

  • - Sperm count.

  • - Sperm morphology.

  • - Stereological analysis of testis

  • - Reduction of testis weight and volume in the first, second, and third experimental groups, but testis weight and volume increased after treatment with THF, in comparison with the first and third experimental groups.

  • - No significant difference in these parameters between the first and third experimental groups.

  • - In stereological analysis of testis, only there were significant differences between animals receiving BUS+ LC in number of the primary spermatocyte and length of flagella (μm), compared to BUS group.

  • - No significant difference was found in plasma testosterone and estradiol levels in any of the groups
Abd-Elrazek and Ahmed-Farid (2017) 20 adult male rats (180±20 g)

  • - Busulfan (BUS).

  • - L-carnitine (LC).

  • - L-arginine (LA)

  • - Busulfan concentration: 20 mg/ml.

  • - L-carnitine: 350 mg/kg.

  • - L-arginine: 100 mg/ml.

Groups:

  • - Control (con).

  • - BUS.

  • - BUS + LA.

  • - BUS + LC

  • - Sperm count.

  • - Motility.

  • - Velocity.

  • - Morphology.

  • - DNA metabolites.

  • - Oxidative stress.

  • - Cell energy

  • - Significant reduction of body weight, testis weight, and relative testes weight following busulfan administration.

  • - Significant enhancement in body weight, testis weight, and relative testes weight in LA and LC groups.

  • - Significant increment in sperm morphology, motility, velocity, and concentration in LA and LC groups.

  • - Enhancement in MDA, GSSG, and ATP (cell energy markers) in LC and LA groups.

  • - Reduction in AMP, GSH, NO, ADP, and 8-OHDG in LC and LA groups