Emmanuel Ikechukwu Nnamonu¹, Edmund Chidiebere Mbegbu², Chiemekam Samuel Ezechukwu³

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of administration of artemether/lumefantrine and chloroquine on some male reproductive parameters. Methods: Sixty adult male albino rats, aged 12 – 13 weeks and weighing between 186 – 199 g, were assigned into five groups: control group and four other groups administered 2/12 mg/mL of artemether/lumefantrine (ART/LUM), 4/24 mg/mL of ART/LUM, 10 mg/mL chloroquine (CHLQN) and 20 mg/mL CHLQN, respectively. Treatment was carried out at 48 h intervals for 28 days, followed by assessment of gonadosomatic index, testicular and epididymal sperm cell counts, testicular histology, testis epithelial thickness and tubular diameter according to standard methods. Results: Artemether/lumefantrine exposure did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect testes relative weight, epididymis tail weights and sperm count per gram epididymis, but the sperm count per gram testis and sperm count per testis were increased. Chloroquine showed no significant (p > 0.05) impact on most parameters except for reduction in testis weight in the high-dose group. Histomicrographs of testicular tissue showed normal structure in control and ART/LUM-treated groups, while CHLQN-treated groups exhibited moderate testicular degeneration. Conclusion: Artemether/lumefantrine does not adversely affect male reproductive health based on the parameters assessed, but chloroquine administration induces mild adverse histological changes. The study opens avenues for further research into mitigating potential reproductive side effects associated with antimalarial treatments