ABSTRACT
Background: Lead is an industrial heavy metal that can decrease sperm motility
Objective:The aim was to investigate the protective effects of calcium against lead on motility of spermatozoa
Materials and Methods:In total 40 adult male Swiss white mice were randomly divided into 5 groups [control, lead of 1[st] wk, lead of 2[nd] wk, lead/calcium of 1Pst Pwk and lead/calcium of 2[nd] wk]. The lead groups of mice were injected by a single dose of lead acetate [200 mg/kg] intraperitoneally. Lead/calcium groups of mice were injected by a single same dose of lead acetate along with three doses of 80 mg/kg calcium chloride. The control group of mice was injected only with same volume of distilled water through the same route. Mice of 1[st] and 2[nd] wk groups were sacrificed through cervical dislocation one and two weeks after injections respectively
Results: Mean of the progressive motile spermatozoa of cauda epididymis in lead/calcium group of the first week was higher than the lead group of the first week and this difference was significant. There was not any significant difference among weight of testes and epididymides of all groups
Conclusion:It can be concluded that calcium can decrease the effects of lead on sperm motility
ABSTRACT
When male animals die, spermatozoa within the body of animal will be degenerated. Because of unique chromatin structure of sperm, maybe this degeneration is different from other cells. However there is not any research which considered directly the integrity of sperm DNA by keeping the cadaver in refrigerator. The aim of this study was to assess viability, total motility and DNA integrity of sperm cells after death. In this experimental study, 24 male Swiss white mice were killed by cervical dislocation and then kept in refrigerator [4-6[degree sign] C] for up to 12 days. On the 0 [immediately after death as control group], 1[st], 2[nd], 3[rd], 5[th], 7[th], 10[th] and the 12[th] days after death cauda epididymides were removed and squeezed in Ham's F10 medium. The proportion of viable, motile and double stranded DNA spermatozoa was examined. Viability and DNA integrity of sperm cells were examined consecutively by eosin nigrosin and acridine orange stainings. The data obtained from this study showed that viability and total motility of sperm cells were significantly decreased during 12 days after death [p<0.001]. In contrast with viability and motility, DNA integrity was without significant changes [even 12 days after death]. This study suggests that integrity of sperm DNA would not change even after 12 days after death if the cadaver kept in refrigerator