Vincristine sulphate induced sperm shape abnormalities in mice

The production and classification of sperm shape abnormalities in laboratory animals through administration of chemical agents, has in recent years developed into a very reliable, species and drug specific method of assay for testing the mutagenicity of pharnacotherapeutic agent. In this paper we present our observations on the number, percentages and types of dysmorphisms induced by the intraperitoneal introduction of Vincristine Sulphate, a well-known radiomimetic, poly-functional anti-carcinogenic alkaloid, in varying dosage in Male Swiss Albino mice. In this study abnormal sperm forms ranged from 0.74 to 11.16% in treated mice, the percentage of abnormalities peaking when dose was ten times the normal for weight. The sperm shapes were of the ‘amorphous’ type predominantly, followed by hookless’, ‘banana’, ‘folded’ and ‘double head or tail’ in vincristine sulphate administered animals. In very high doses the drug induced near azoospermia. This report analyses and discusses the possible pharmacokinetics of the drug on the production of the sperm shape anomalies. The observations confirm that mutagenicity of chemical agents could be tested and compared using the sperm head-shape abnormality assay method with a good degree of statistical confidence.