Imatinib mesylate at therapeutic doses has no impact on folliculogenesis or spermatogenesis in a leukaemic mouse model

Schultheis, Beate; Nijmeijer, Bart A.; Yin, H.; Gosden, Roger G.; Melo, Junia V.

doi:10.1016/j.leukres.2011.09.025

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Volume 36, Issue 3 , Pages 271-274, March 2012

Imatinib mesylate at therapeutic doses has no impact on folliculogenesis or spermatogenesis in a leukaemic mouse model

Beate Schultheis
- Department of Haematology, Imperial College and Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Corresponding author. Present address: Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, University of Bochum, Marienhospital Herne, Hoelkeskampring 40, 44625 Herne, Germany. Tel.: +49 2323 499 1641; fax: +49 2323 499 362.
Bart A. Nijmeijer
- Department of Haematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
H. Yin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
Roger G. Gosden
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
Junia V. Melo
- Department of Haematology, Imperial College and Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Present address: Department of Haematology, Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Received 17 March 2011; received in revised form 11 September 2011; accepted 22 September 2011. published online 24 October 2011.

Abstract

Imatinib should be avoided in women planning to become pregnant or during pregnancy, due to a higher risk of congenital malformations. However, it is not known whether imatinib affects future potential for fertility. Here we analysed ovaries and testes from adult mice receiving imatinib, focusing on testicular and ovarian functions. Seven male and 7 female mice were orally treated with 150mg/kg body weight/day imatinib for two months. No effects on folliculogenesis or spermatogenesis could be observed postmortem by histological examinations, suggesting that, at least in two mouse models of imatinib treatment this tyrosine kinase inhibitor does not reduce fertility.