Could zinc prevent reproductive alterations caused by cigarette smoke in male rats?

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of zinc on fertility through semen parameters, testosterone level and oxidative DNA damage to spermatozoa of rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Male Wistar rats (60 days old) were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group): control, cigarette-smoking (20 cigarettes per day), zinc (zinc chloride 20 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) and zinc plus cigarette-smoking (zinc chloride 20 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹; 20 cigarettes per day). The treatment was applied for nine weeks and the following parameters were analysed: bodyweight, wet weights of the reproductive organs and the adrenal gland, plasma testosterone concentration, testicular function (seminal analysis and daily sperm production) and sperm DNA oxidative damage. The exposure to cigarette smoke decreased testosterone concentration, the percentage of normal morphology and the motility of spermatozoa. In addition, this exposure increased sperm DNA oxidative damage. Zinc treatment protected against the toxic damage that smoking caused to spermatozoa. This study showed a correlation between smoking and possible male infertility and subfertility, and also that the majority of smoking-induced changes in spermatozoa were prevented by zinc treatment. In conclusion, zinc, an antioxidant and stimulant of cell division, can be indicated as a promising treatment in men with infertility caused by the toxic components of cigarette smoke.

Cytochrome P450 3A1 Mediates 2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl Ether-Induced Reduction of Spermatogenesis in Adult Rats

“…Daily sperm production (DSP) was also determined according to previous studies [25]. Briefly, once the testis of the rats was decapsulated and weighed, it was homogenized in 5 ml of 0.9% NaCl that contained 0.5% Triton X-100 and 0.01% thiomersal sodium.…”

Comparison of the effect of a combination of eight micronutrients versus a standard mono preparation on sperm parameters

“…The hydrophile coenzyme Q10 catches free radicals, and improves male FSH and LH serum profile [9, 50] and shows an improvement over sperm concentration, motility and morphology [9, 51]. The hydrophile dietary mineral zinc provides a protective antioxidant effect during sperm production that may counteract against copper excess [52, 53], improving sperm cell concentration and motility [54–57]. Hydrophile folic acid reduces the concentration of round cells in the semen which are a major source for free radicals [58, 59]; and hence leading to a reduction of oxidative stress [60] as well as a rise in sperm cell concentration [61].…”

Semen and reproductive parameters during some abstinence periods after cigarette smoke exposure in male rats

“…These data showed an accumulation of secretion in the seminal vesicles of this group by cigarette smoke exposure, probably due to deficiency of seminal vesicle's contraction. This contraction deficiency could be related to low testosterone level in cigarette smoke exposed rats (Garcia et al 2012), since seminal vesicle´s contraction depend on appropriated testosterone level (Pereira et al 2003;Pereira and Piffer 2005). It is well documented that cigarette smoking can decrease weight and some people, mainly adolescents, smoke and try to lose weight with this habit (Johnson et al 2009).…”