Effect of Diazepam on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in male rats

Infertility is one of the most serious problems around the world and the male counterpart contributes half of the infertility cases. Infertility can be caused by androgen deficiency or low testosterone level. The evaluation of infertility can aid in determining the underlying cause of infertility as well as giving treatment to allow conception to occur. Diazepam is used to treat anxiety, convulsions and for sedation. The severity of adverse effects induced by diazepam forces physicians to pay attention and exercise caution to side effects when they prescribe this drug. Recent studies found that diazepam acts as Ca2 channels antagonist as it can produce a complete inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2 uptake and that the Na/Ca2 exchange carrier in mitochondria may be a common receptor for diazepam and calcium channel blockers. Calcium ion contributes in many cellular functions in both somatic and germ cells in the testis, especially, mediating the responses to endocrine hormones and local regulators in genital tracts and thus any change in the transport of Ca2 across the cell membrane could result in an extreme impact on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis.