RESUMO
PIP: Since the synthesis and maturational processes of sperm are associated with characteristic alterations in different marker enzyme activities in testes and epididymis, it is possible to monitor these enzymes to investigate whether 3 antispermatogenic agents, WIN 18 446, alpha-chlorohydrin (AC), and cyproterone acetate (CA), have any characteristic effects on biochemical events associated with spermatogenesis and maturation of sperm; acid, neutral, and alkaline proteinases, particulate and soluble arylamidases, and sialidase were studied after treatment with 1 of the 3 agents in male albino rats (CIBA strain) by measuring these enzyme levels in rat testicular and epididymal tissues. After WIN treatment, sialidase activity as well as sialic acid content increased in the testis, whereas no such effect occurred in the epididymis at any dose. At low dose, AC (10 mg/kg/day for 7 days) and CA (50 mg/kg/day for 10 days) decreased the sialic acid content and the sialidase activity in the epididymis, whereas the sialic acid and sialidase activity in the testis remained unchanged. At higher dose levels, AC (25 mg) and CA (50 mg) both affected the tissues significantly, i.e., enhancing sialidase activity and lowering sialic acid content. Therefore, the effect of CA and AC is more prominent on the maturational phenomena than the testicular spermatogenesis. AC and CA deserve further investigation for use as a male contraceptive. The relationship between proteinase, sialidase, and arylamidase activities and different phases of spermatogenesis and maturation was established by these test results.^ieng