RESUMO
Background: Exposure to arsenic is associated with impairment of male reproductive function by inducing oxidative stress. Silymarin with an antioxidant property scavenges free radicals
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate if silymarin can prevent the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on ram sperm plasma membrane and acrosome integrity
Materials and Methods: Ram epidydimal spermatozoa were divided into five groups: spermatozoa at 0 hr, spermatozoa at 180 min [control], spermatozoa treated with silymarin [20 micro M] + sodium arsenite [10 micro M] for 180 min, spermatozoa treated with sodium arsenite [10 micro M] for 180 min and spermatozoa treated with silymarin [20 micro M] for 180 min. Double staining of Hoechst and propidium iodide was performed to evaluate sperm plasma membrane integrity, whereas comassie brilliant blue staining was used to assess acrosome integrity
Results: Plasma membrane [p< 0.001] and acrosome integrity [p< 0.05] of the spermatozoa were significantly reduced in sodium arsenite group compared to the control. In silymarin + sodium arsenite group, silymarin was able to significantly [p< 0.001] ameliorate the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on these sperm parameters compared to sodium arsenite group. The incubation of sperm for 180 min [control group] showed a significant [p< 0.001] decrease in acrosome integrity compared to the spermatozoa at 0 hour. The application of silymarin alone for 180 min could also significantly [p< 0.05] increase sperm acrosome integrity compared to the control
Conclusion: Silymarin as a potent antioxidant could compensate the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on the ram sperm plasma membrane and acrosome integrity
RESUMO
Background: Sodium arsenite can impair male reproductive function by inducing oxidative stress. Silymarin is known as a potent antioxidant
Objective: This study was performed to investigate if silymarin can prevent the adverse effect of sodium arsenite on ram sperm viability, motility and mitochondrial membrane potential
Materials and Methods: Epidydimal spermatozoa obtained from ram were divided into five groups: 1] Spermatozoa at 0 hr, 2] spermatozoa at 180 min [control], 3] spermatozoa treated with sodium arsenite [10 microM] for 180 min, 4] spermatozoa treated with silymarin [20 microM] + sodium arsenite [10 microM] for 180 min and 5] spermatozoa treated with silymarin [20 microM] for 180 min. MTT assay and Rhodamine 123 staining were used to assess sperm viability and mitochondrial membrane potential respectively. Sperm motility was performed according to World Health Organization [WHO] guidelines
Results: Viability [p<0.01], nonprogressive motility [p<0.001] and intact mitochondrial membrane potential [p<0.001] of the spermatozoa were significantly decreased in sodium arsenite treated group compared to control group. In silymarin + sodium arsenite group, silymarin could significantly reverse the adverse effect of sodium arsenite on these sperm parameters compared to sodium arsenite group [p<0.001]. In addition, the application of silymarin alone for 180 minutes could significantly increase progressively motile sperm [p<0.001] and decrease non motile sperm [p<0.01] compared to the control
Conclusion: Silymarin could compensate the adverse effect of sodium arsenite on viability, nonprogressive motility and mitochondrial membrane potential of ram sperm