The comparison of brown algae (halopteri̇s scoparia sauvageau) with vitamins c and e combinations on impaired sperm parameters of male mice

Cadmium that a major industrial and environmental pollutant are highly toxic to living organisms. However, it usually accumulates in testicular tissues and causes many injuries leading to infertility. It is possible to encounter cases of male infertility due to oxidative stres based environmental factors like this. In these cases, natural antioxidants may be used instead of synthetic antioxidants which using for therapeutic purposes. Algae are reported to have antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties. This study was conducted to determine the protective effects of algae against proven antioxidant vitamins against infertility caused by cadmium exposure in male rats. In the study, 36 male Balb-C type experimental mice were randomly divided into six groups. Group I; Control, Group II; CdCl2 2 mg/kg/day, Group III; Alg 900 mg/kg/day, Group IV; Vitamins C/E 200 mg/kg /day, Group V; CdCl2 (2 mg/kg/day) + Alg (900 mg/kg/day), Group VI; CdCl2 (2 mg/kg/day) + Vitamin C/E (200 mg/kg /day); were applied. Animal weighed and then blood samples were drawn from the heart of each animal into anticoagulant-free test tubes and serum was removed and stored at −20°C until determination of testosterone, FSH and LH hormone. The animal used in histopatological assay were killed by cervical dislocation and the accessory sex organs were weighed and excised. This removed organ thoroughly washed with physiological saline (NaCl 0.9%), and stored in 4% para-formaldehyde until further processing. The paraffin blocks of organ were prepared. The blocks were sectioned at 6 μm thickness and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin method as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TUNEL immunohistochemical staining for determination of apoptosis was performed. Furthermore, serum FSH, serum LH and serum testosterone levels from blood samples were measured. Sperm counts, sperm motility, sperm viability and sperm morphology of mice were evaluated. This study revealed that Alg and Vitamin C/E groups in the sperm counts were similar to the control but there was a statistically significant decrease in sperm counts in CdCI2, CdCI2 +Alg, CdCI2+Vitamin C/E groups. It has been shown that Alg and Vitamin C/E have healing effects on reductions caused by CdCl2 in sperm count. There was a statistically significant increase in algae group and a statistically significant decrease in CdCI2, Alg+CdCI2, Vitamin C/E+CdCI2 groups in sperm viability and normal sperm morphology. It was found that Alg and Vitamin C/E had a healing effect on the reduction caused by CdCl2 but algae were statistically more effective than vitamin C and E (p<0.001). CdCI2 group caused a further increase in serum FSH level and a further decrease in serum testosterone level compared with the control group. Alg and Vitamin C/E showed that an ameliorated effect at the level of serum FSH and testosterone caused by CdCl2 (p<0.001). However, in cadmium group, there was an increase in NOS2 and TUNEL expression as well as severe degeneration and cellular losses were observed. At the same time, The algae given for protective purposes has been observed to prevent all these damages. As a result, it is suggested that algae shows protective effect against changes in histological and sperm parameters caused by CdCl2 and can be used as an effective agent in infertility treatment by supporting further experiments.