STM Article Repository

Background: Severe burns cause a wide range of complications that challenge care in the short term and often leaves long term sequelae in survivors. Research evidence suggests that burns can affect testosterone secretion, and impair spermatogenesis and fertility. This study was designed to investigate the effects of fluid resuscitation on spermatogenesis and histology of the testes after major burns.

Methodology: Third degree burns was induced on dorsal skin of 3 groups of male Wistar rats. Intra-venous resuscitation fluid was administered, ½ h and 3 h post-burn in the first 2 groups. A fourth group had sham burn only and served as negative control. After 8 weeks the animals were sacrificed evaluated for sperm parameters, testicular histology and assays of oxidative status.

Main Findings: Fluid administration did not cause significant difference in sperm parameters or in levels of markers of oxidative stress among the animals with burn injury. Mean sperm density in groups 1 and 2 which had fluid treatment were 57.00±11.99 and 56.33±9.49 respectively compared to 49.00±6.24 in the untreated group 3 (p=0.921 and 0.947). However total counts were significantly lower in all burned groups than in the sham burn group. Fluid treatment produced a time-dependent relief from the histological disruptions associated with the burns. Tubules with germ cell loss were fewer in the fluid treated groups than in the untreated one.

Conclusion: Fluid treatment in burn patients may not protect them from suppression of testicular function. Fertility damage in severe burns may involve mechanisms that do not depend on intravascular volumes and pressures.