Lopinavir/Ritonavir, an Antiretroviral Drug, Lowers Sperm Quality and Induces Testicular Oxidative Damage in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra®) is a protease inhibitor used in the management of HIV infection. The increased incidence of toxicity of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has necessitated proper evaluation of their effects on reproductive health.

PURPOSE: Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of Kaletra® on male reproductive system in Wistar rat.

METHODS: Eighteen rats were assigned into three groups. The first group served as control while the second and third groups received Kaletra® at therapeutic dose (8.3 mg/kg) (Kaletra-T) and twice therapeutic dose (16.6 mg/kg) (Kaletra-2T). Kaletra® was given orally for 21 days.

RESULTS: Administration of Kaletra® caused a significant (p = 0.023) decrease in body weight-gain of rats. Precisely, Kaletra-T and Kaletra-2T decreased body weight-gain by 43% and 48%, respectively. Kaletra-T and kaletra-2T significantly (p = 0.016-0.036) decreased sperm motility and sperm count while kaletra-2T increased total sperm abnormalities in the rats. Also, Kaletra® (at the two doses) caused a significant (p = 0.02-0.04) increase in the levels of testicular lipid peroxidation with a concomitant decrease in antioxidant indices. Specifically, Kaletra-T and Kaletra-2T decreased the activities of glutathione peroxidase by 38% and 57%, catalase by 40% and 48%, glutathione-s-transferase by 32% and 35% and superoxide dismutase by 47% and 52%, respectively while Kaletra-2T decreased reduced glutathione by 49%. Photomicrographs of testis from control and Kaletra-T groups showed normal seminiferous tubules with abundant spermatogenic cells while Kaletra-2T group had few and abnormal shape spermatogenic cells.

CONCLUSION: Kaletra® induces oxidative damage in testis of rats leading to changes in sperm characteristics and antioxidant status of the animals.