Ketamine is increasingly used in clinical practice, and ketamine addiction is common in young individuals. There are limited reviews on the chronic effects of ketamine on the testes. Three groups of rats received saline or ketamine 50 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for 6 weeks with or without a subsequent 4-week drug-free period. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and testosterone levels, as well as testicular malondialdehyde concentrations, were measured. Epididymal sperm parameters were assessed. Testicular tissues were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining using caspase-3 and vimentin antibodies. Chronic ketamine injection significantly decreased the levels of the examined hormones and adversely affected sperm parameters. Testicular tissue showed a significant increase in caspase-3 expression. In addition, Sertoli cell shape and position were disrupted. These effects disappeared 4 weeks after drug withdrawal. Chronic ketamine treatment has revisable hazardous effects on the rat reproductive function. There is a need to increase the knowledge of physicians and the public regarding these harmful effects of ketamine.
Keywords: Ketamine; apoptosis; lipid peroxidation; reproductive function; testes.