Protective Effect of Spirulina and Phycocyanin on Testicular Tissue and Sperm Parameters in Adult Rats Treated with Hydrogen Peroxide
Background and purpose: About 50% of infertility in couples is related to male factors and oxidative stress is one of the main causes of infertility in men. Hydrogen peroxide has an adverse effect on male reproductive system due to its free radicals. Spirulina and phycocyanin are known to have antio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jmums.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-18624-en.pdf |
| Summary: | Background and purpose: About 50% of infertility in couples is related to male factors and oxidative stress is one of the main causes of infertility in men. Hydrogen peroxide has an adverse effect on male reproductive system due to its free radicals. Spirulina and phycocyanin are known to have antioxidant properties and can modify stressors.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 36 adult male rats were randomly divided into six groups to receive the following: water and normal food, phycocyanin solution (300 mg/kg), spirulina (500 mg/kg), hydrogen peroxide solution (0.5%), hydrogen peroxide in drinking water (0.5%) + phycocyanin (300 mg/kg), and hydrogen peroxide in drinking water (0.5%) + spirulina (500 mg/kg). Weighing and dissection of testicles were performed for histological study and sperm evaluation.
Results: Hydrogen peroxide had negative effects on testicular tissue, leading to significant decrease in sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology compared with the control group (P<0.05). But, phycocyanin and spirulina algae improved the function of testicular tissue, by which improvement in sperm motility, morphology, and mortality was observed. In all parameters, the protective effect of phycocyanin on testicular tissue was better than spirulina. The group that received phycocyanin + hydrogen peroxide, showed no significant difference in the number of sperm and number of testicular cells when compared with the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Phycocyanin and spirulina algae reduce the harmful effects of hydrogen peroxide on reproductive system of rats by improving some factors in testicle structure and semen parameters. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1735-9260 1735-9279 |