The effects of propolis on sperm quality, reproductive organs and testicular antioxidant status of male rats treated with cyclosporine-A

B Gul Baykalir,P Tatli Seven,I Seven,S Gur

doi:10.21451/1984-3143-ar736

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effects of propolis on the quality of sperm and reproductive organs in male rats treated with cyclosporine-A. In this study, 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats (280-300 g BW) at 8-10 weeks of age were used. The rats were randomly divided into control and 3 treatment groups. Each rat was placed into a cage. During 21 days (experimental period), Group 1 served as control group; Group 2 (CsA) was given 15 mg/kg BW/day of CsA by subcutaneously; Group 3 (P) was given 100 mg/kg BW/day of propolis by gavage; Group 4 (CsA+P) was given 15 mg/kg BW/day of CsA subcutaneously and 100 mg/kg BW/day of propolis by gavage. Administration of CsA to rats decreased sperm motility (P < 0.01) and sperm concentration (P < 0.01), and it increased total abnormal sperm rates (P < 0.05) as compared with the control group. Significant improvements were observed in the sperm motility (P < 0.01) and total abnormal sperm rates (P < 0.05) in CsA+P group. No significant differences were observed in the weights of right and left testes among all groups. The weight values of right and left epididymis were found similar to each other in CsA administrated groups. Seminal vesicle (P < 0.01) and prostat glands weights (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in CsA+P group than CsA group. As a result, it was determined that oral supplementation of 100 mg/kg of propolis had amendatory effect on the quality of sperm and reproductive organs treated with CsA administered rats. CsA treatment caused a significant increase in MDA level (P < 0.01) and significant decreases (P < 0.01) in GSH level and CAT activity when compared with the control group. Ingestion of propolis by CsA-treated rats significantly decreased the MDA level and significantly increased the GSH level when compared with the CsA alone group (P < 0.01).

Highlights

Many environmental, physiological, and genetic factors have been implicated in the poor sperm functions and infertility (Vine, 1996; Auger et al, 2001; Kenkel et al, 2001; Sharlip et al, 2002).Among various causes, oxidative stress has been attributed to affect the fertility status and physiology of spermatozoa (Agarwal et al, 2008)
A significant decrease (P < 0.01) was found for sperm motility and concentration in the CsA group when compared with the control group, no difference was observed in sperm motility of the CsA+P group as compared with the control group
CsA treatment is probably responsible for the pathogenesis of testicular and spermatozoal toxicity associated with the oxidative stress

Summary

Introduction

Physiological, and genetic factors have been implicated in the poor sperm functions and infertility (Vine, 1996; Auger et al, 2001; Kenkel et al, 2001; Sharlip et al, 2002). Oxidative stress has been attributed to affect the fertility status and physiology of spermatozoa (Agarwal et al, 2008). The term oxidative stress is generally applied when oxidants outnumber antioxidants (Du Plessis et al, 2008). The imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a biological systems ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or repair the resulting damage is known as oxidative stress (Agarwal et al, 2003). The main destructive aspects of oxidative stress are the production of ROS, which include free radicals and peroxides (Bansal and Bilaspuri, 2011)

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