Several factors affect fertility, ranging from environmental factor, nutritional factor, toxins and the way of life. However, Alcohol is often associated with fertility disturbances with low sperm count and impaired sperm motility. The sertoli cell seems to be the first testicular cell injured as a result of alcohol exposure. However, chronic alcohol administration to male animals is often associated with testicular atrophy and gonadal failure. This study was designed to investigate the effect of vitamin E, a known antioxidant, on alcohol induced antispermatogenic action in male rats. Mature wistar rats(200-250g) were divided into: Group I (control) received 0.2ml of 0.9% normal saline, group II ( received alcohol 0.003ml/g b.w as 40%v/v orally), group III ( received alcohol 0.003ml/g b.w as 20% v/v orally), group IV (received alcohol 0.003ml/g b.w as 40%v/v + Vitamin E 100mg/kg b.w orally), and group V (received alcohol 0.003ml/g b.w as 20%v/v + Vitamin E 100mg/kg b.w orally). All animals were treated for 30 days. At the end of each experimental period, animals were sacrificed via cervical dislocation and organ weights, sperm characteristics, serum testosterone levels, and fertility were assessed. There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in sperm motility, viability and of alcohol treated groups (sperm motility: 69.12±2.6, 57.70±3.07)compared with the control group(89.06±1.07) However, there was a recovery/reversibility of sperm motility in groups treated with alcohol with co-administration of vitamin E showed that vitamin E was able to ameliorate the effect produced by alcohol on sperm characteristics . There was a significant increase in organ weights (testis, heart, kidney and liver) of alcohol treated rats. However, the study showed that Vitamin E (100mg/kg b.w) administration was able to prevent the antispermatogenic action of alcohol. Keywords: Alcohol, Vitamin E, testosterone, reproductive organs, fertility, sperm parameters, rats
37th Congress of IUPS (Birmingham, UK) (2013) Proc 37th IUPS, PCC215
Poster Communications: Effects of vitamin E on antispermatogenic activity of alcohol in male albino rats
C. O. Akintayo1,2, O. T. Olaniyan2,1
1. Physiology, Bingham University, Karu Nasarawa state, Nigeria, Karu, Nasarawa, Nigeria. 2. Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
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Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements.