Cisplatin–DNA adduct formation in rat spermatozoa and its effect on fetal development

Exposure of males to some genotoxic chemicals causes DNA damage in spermatozoa resulting in embryotoxicity and developmental defects in their offspring. This study demonstrates that cisplatin–DNA adducts could be measured in spermatozoa following treatment with the antineoplastic drug, cisplatin. The formation of spermatozoa cisplatin–DNA adducts showed dose and time-dependent increases both in vitro, and in vivo up to 168 h (7 days) after dosing. Treatment of rats with 10 mg cisplatin/kg resulted in spermatozoa Pt–GG adduct levels of approximately 1.0 fmol/μg DNA. When cisplatin-treated male rats were bred to untreated females 6–24 h after cisplatin administration, no adverse developmental effects or decreases in body weight were seen in the offspring although there was a trend towards increased early embryo mortality.