Effect of sub-chronic arsenic poisoning on rat sperm hyaluronidase

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of sub-chronic arsenic poisoning on hyaluronidase activity of rat sperm.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats in cleanliness grade,weighing 100-200 g,were randomly divided into four groups:control group,low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose arsenic exposure groups,10 in each group,and allotted to cages.Rats of arsenic groups were exposed to arsenic through drinking water (As2O3 was dissolved in distilled water).The concentrations of As2O3 in low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose groups were 25,50,and 100 mg/L,respectively.Body weight of each rat was weighed once a week.The rats in control group drank distilled water freely.All rats were fed for three months.After the experiment,all rats were killed and their sperms were collected.The positive rates and hyaluronidase activity intensities of the sperms in different groups were examined by the mature improved fixed-substrate film method.Results The positive rate of sperm hyaluronidase in control,low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose groups were (90.8 ± 13.2)％,(79.1 ± 15.6)％,(59.7 ± 20.3)％ and (33.8 ± 14.5)％,respectively.Compared with the control group,the positive rates of the middledose and the high-dose groups were significantly reduced(all P ＜ 0.05).The activity intensities of hyaluronidase in the sperms in control,low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose groups were (45.1 ± 24.0),(31.1 ± 21.3),(19.4 ± 15.3) and (9.8 ± 3.1)μm,respectively.Compared with the control group,the activity intensities of hyaluronidase of the middle-dose and the high-dose groups were significantly reduced(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Sub-chronic arsenic poisoning reduces the activity intensities and positive rates of sperm hyaluronidase of rat,resulting in reduced sperm fertilizing capacity. Key words: Arsenic poisoning; Spermatozoa ; Hyaluronidase