Reproductive toxic potential of panmasala in male Swiss albino mice

Abstract

Some ingredients of panmasala have the ability to penetrate the blood-testis barrier but the reproductive toxic potential of panmasala has not been studied. This study is aimed to assess the possible damage caused by panmasala to male reproductive system in mice. Swiss albino male mice were randomly divided into 7 groups receiving either standard control diet or panmasala-containing diet. Three doses (0.5%, 1.5% and 3%) of panmasala plain (PMP) as well as panmasala with tobacco (PMT)-gutkha were given for a period of 6 months. Assessment of organ weight, sperm count and morphology, spermatid count, sperm production, testicular 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activity and histology were conducted. A nonsignificant decrease in absolute and relative weight of testis and epididymis was observed. Spermatid count, sperm count and production were significantly decreased and 17β-HSD activity was found considerably declined at 3% of both PMP- and PMT-treated groups as compared to control. The histological observations revealed panmasala induced testicular damage. Abnormal morphology of sperm head shape was significantly elevated in higher doses of both types of panmasala-treated groups than control. The results suggests that panmasala has reproductive toxic potential and more alteration is seen with gutkha as compared to panmasala plain, indicating that similar effects might also be possible in humans.

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“…In contrast to that seen in our short-term studies, chronic exposure of mice to pan masala in the diet produced a significant decline in testis weight [31,41]. Conflicting data between studies may be due to differences in exposure duration, exposure route, and/or overall dose, as mice were exposed here to a lower concentration by the oral mucosal route and for a shorter time period.…”

“…While in vitro studies have been performed examining the toxicological implications of a variety of ST products [34,35,36] and in vivo animal systems have examined the effects of ST via food or drinking water [31,37,38], oral mucosal absorption of ST, that most closely reflects the human ST experience, has not yet been studied. Another strength of this study is the inclusion of nicotine alone into the experimental design (at approximately the same circulating cotinine level as that produced by gutkha) that serves to both gauge effects of gutkha compared to a known tobacco toxicant and aids in identifying key components that may contribute to the observed effects.…”

“…[31] demonstrated that chronic exposure of mice for six months to 3% pan masala with tobacco (a South Asian product similar to gutkha) in the diet produced adverse reproductive outcomes including reductions in spermatid count, mature sperm count, and sperm production. The investigators also reported testicular damage and abnormal sperm head shape, as well as a considerable decline in testicular 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activity; reduced activity of 17β-HSD in the pan masala-treated mice indicates impairment of steroidogenesis.…”

“…The investigators also reported testicular damage and abnormal sperm head shape, as well as a considerable decline in testicular 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activity; reduced activity of 17β-HSD in the pan masala-treated mice indicates impairment of steroidogenesis. Such a change in 17β-HSD activity can lead ultimately to reduced circulating testosterone levels [31]. As testosterone is required for the attachment/adherence of different generations of germ cells in seminiferous tubules, reduced levels can lead to detachment of germ cells from seminiferous tubule epithelium, potentially leading to infertility [40].…”

“…Limited studies using animal models have demonstrated that long-term gutkha exposure can result in reproductive toxicity including lowered spermatid/sperm count and sperm production in male mice [31]. Long-term exposure of mice to gutkha caused decreased antioxidant defense resulting in long-term inflammation in the liver and lung [32].…”