Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 4 (1): 261 - 266. Published July 15, 2009.
Fertility indicators and glutathione status in Sprague Dawley rats
Micho M.*, Mohamed H.E**^, Sewani-Ruskie C.R*** and Mudambo K.S.M.T*
*Department of Physiology; College of Health Sciences; University of Zimbabwe; **Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University; Riyadh; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ; ***Department of Physiology, Zimbabwe Defence Forces HQ, Harare.
^Corresponding author: hmohamedd@ksu.edu.sa
SUMMARY
The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between glutathione status and male fertility. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups; twenty rats administered paracetamol (Glutathione depletory) and the other group of rats (the control), got 0.9% normalized saline for ninety day. At day 15, 30, 60, and 90, four rats from each group were assessed for semen quality, sperm motility, morphology, glutathione concentration and histology of testis, liver and epididymis. Results showed that semen homogeneity disappear and liquefaction occurs after 30 seconds, sperm motility dropped to below 20%, glutathione levels dropped to 50nmoles/l sperm, abnormalities rose to 95 % by day 90, of these 75% had bent tail and 80% had abnormal mid-piece The study group had 80% quantal pregnancy, >60% libido, >80% mount and intromissions and a total of 12 pups from the four rats, gestation period was increased by an average of 10 days as compared to the control group with 100% quantal pregnancy, <80% libido, mounts, intromissions and a total of 35 pups. However al pups were 100% free from abnormality. These results show that glutathione depletion affects male fertility especially on the quality of sperms. Normal sperm dropped to less than 5% by day 15. Sperm droplets were not marked and were not affected with time. The study group showed marked accelerated increase in sperm abnormality from 50% at day 15 to 90% at day 90. For the control group it rose from 10 to 35% on day 15 and 90, respectively. Significant reduction layer of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids, were observed on day 30 to day 90. However in the control group slight lymphocytic infiltration and liver necrosis and a slight reduction in spermatogonia, spermtocytes and spermatids were seen on day 60 to 90. It could be concluded that glutathione depletion affects the physiology of male reproductive system with consequent detrimental effects on male fertility.
Key words
Fertility, glutathione, rats
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