Lyophilized açai Berry Reverses the Damage in Sperm DNA, Acrosome and Mitochondria in Aged Rat Model

Abstract

Aged gametes and age-related metabolic diseases are common causes of reduced fertility, a pattern intimately linked with lower quality of the DNA content. D-galactose administration in rodents has been used in research related to aging. Nutraceuticals containing anthocyanins, such as açai berry (Euterpe oleracea Martius), are adjuvants in controlling or preventing diseases related to metabolic syndrome. Seventy days old male Wistar rats were induced to senescence using daily doses of 200 mg/kg b.w. of D-galactose for 8 weeks by gavage and supplemented (DGA group) or not (DG group) with 200 mg/kg of lyophilized açai berry. The sham control (C group) group received distilled water. The animals were tested for blood glucose level and regularly weighed. Reproductive organs were collected, weighed, and sperm was collected from the epididymis cauda for DNA fragmentation test (SCSA), protamination (CMA3), lipid peroxidation (BODIPY C11), acrosome integrity (PNA) and mitochondrial mass (MitoTracker Green), all performed under flow cytometry. Rats from DG group showed opaque, dry and thin fur, characteristics not seen in the DGA and C groups. In the DG group there was a statistically significant increase in the epididymis weight, and increased numbers of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation and altered acrosome, accompanied by higher levels of lipid peroxidation, and reduced mitochondrial mass. The results presented here suggest that the rats supplemented with lyophilized açai had improved integrity of the chromatin, acrosome, and mitochondrial function when compared to the aged group, which could improve the chances of success of conception.