Methanolic extract of Chlorella vulgaris protects against sodium nitrite-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Chlorella Vulgaris (CV) extract against the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity. Forty-five male Wistar albino rats were assigned into five groups (n=9). Control group received normal saline orally for 3months, CV-treated: administered CV extract (70mg/kg.BW) orally for 3months, sodium nitrite-treated: received sodium nitrite (80mg/kg.BW) orally for 3months, co-treated: simultaneously received CV along with sodium nitrite treatment, orally, daily for 3months, and CV-pre-treated: pre-treated with CV extract for 4weeks followed by simultaneous treatment with sodium nitrite and CV extract for additional 8weeks. Treatment with sodium nitrite significantly decreased serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations, sperm count, motility, and viability. Besides, it decreased testicular superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while increased malondialdehyde concentration. This effect of sodium nitrite was associated with degenerative, necrotic, vascular, and inflammatory changes in testicular tissues. Treatment of sodium nitrite-intoxicated rats with CV in co-treated and pre-treated groups significantly prevented sodium nitrite-induced alterations of sperm parameters, hormonal concentrations, testicular oxidative-antioxidant status, and histological architecture. This study indicates that CV extract ameliorates the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity via improving reproductive hormonal levels and testicular antioxidant activities.