Infertility can primarily result from oxidative stress induced by the use of various drugs including known antibiotics.
This study investigated dose and time-dependent effect of Ciprofloxacin on antioxidant status, sperm motility, viability and morphological characteristics of semen from sexually mature boar. Semen was incubated with Ciprofloxacin at 5.4 μg/ml, 54 μg/ml and 540 μg/ml for 4 hours at 37oC and sperm characteristics were monitored at 2-hour intervals.
Antioxidant status was assessed after the incubation period by estimation of reduced glutathione levels, and activities of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. The extent of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide generation were also determined. Ciprofloxacin induced oxidative stress in boar semen in a dose-dependent manner with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in reduced glutathione levels, and activities of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase as well as malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels when compared with the control. However, when compared with the control, there was a significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent decline in the activity of SOD. Assessment of sperm characteristics revealed a decline in motility, 2 hours post-treatment with all doses of Ciprofloxacin which became significant in the 4th hour. Semen incubation with Ciprofloxacin also increased the number of abnormal sperm cells while decreasing viability in a time-dependent manner. Overall, these results show that Ciprofloxacin caused enhancement of free radicals and alterations in activities of antioxidant enzymes with a resultant deterioration in sperm motility, viability and morphology.