Advanced Biomedical Research

Impact of saffron on rat sperm membrane integrity and spermatogenesis status

Authors

Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Male factor has been considered as a 50% of infertility causes. One of the reasons for poor semen quality is oxidative stress. Saffron and vitamin E as antioxidant agent can be involved in free radical scavenging and improvement of semen quality.
Materials and Methods: We divided 30 adult male Wistar rats into saffron (n = 10), vitamin E (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups randomly. Saffron (100 mg/kg/day), vitamin E (100 mg/kg/day), and distilled water (0.5 ml/day) were fed by gavage to the animals for 60 consecutive days in aforementioned groups. After cervical dislocation, both testes and left epididymis of each animal were removed and the cauda epididymal spermatozoa were aspirated for analysis of sperm parameters. Sperm membrane integrity was assessed by hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). In different groups, seminiferous tubule histological assessments were done after Hematoxylin -Eosin staining.
Results: The mean percentage of HOST positive sperm was increased in vitamin E and saffron groups as compared to control group. As we can see there was a significant difference among control and experimental groups (P < 0.001); also a significant difference was obtained between vitamin E and saffron groups (P = 0.002). The evaluation of seminiferous tubules has shown no significant differences among groups.
Conclusions: The present data suggest that saffron had superior antioxidant properties which can improve sperm parameters and membrane integrity so it can lead to develop fertility potential.

Keywords

1. Geva E, Lessing JB, Lerner-Geva L, Amit A. Free radicals, antioxidants and human spermatozoa: Clinical implications. Hum Reprod 1998;13:1422-4.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2. Richburg JH, Boekelheide K. Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate rapidly alters both Sertoli cell vimentin filaments and germ cell apoptosis in young rat testes. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1996;137:42-50.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3. Yang HS, Han DK, Kim JR, Sim JC. Effects of a-tocopherol on cadmium-induced toxicity in rat testis and spermatogenesis. J Korean Med Sci 2006;21:445-51.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4. Alvarez JG, Touchstone JC, Blasco L, Storey BT. Spontaneous lipid peroxidation and production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide in human spermatozoa Superoxide dismutase as major enzyme protectant against oxygen toxicity. J Androl 1987;8:338-48.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5. Bucak MN, Sarýözkan S, Tuncer PB, Sakin F, Ateþþahin A, Kulaksýz R, et al . The effect of antioxidants on post-thawed Angora goat (Capra hircus ancryrensis) sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities. Small Rumin Res 2010;89:24-30.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6. Aitken RJ, Roman SD. Antioxidant systems and oxidative stress in the testes. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2008;1:15-24.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7. Bansal AK, Bilaspuri GS. Antioxidant effect of vitamin E on motility, viability and lipid peroxidation of cattle spermatozoa under oxidative stress. Anim Sci Pap Rep 2009;27:5-14.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8. Gavazza MB, Catala A. The effect of a-tocopherol on lipid peroxidation of microsomes and mitochondria from rat testis. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2006;74:247-54.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9. Premkumar K, Abraham SK, Santhiya ST, Ramesh A. Protective effects of saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) on genotoxins‐induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice. Phytother Res 2003;17:614-7.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10. Papandreou MA, Tsachaki M, Efthimiopoulos S, Cordopatis P, Lamari FN, Margarity M. Memory enhancing effects of saffron in aged mice are correlated with antioxidant protection. Behav Brain Res 2011;219:197-204.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11. Mansoori P, Akhondzadeh S, Raisi F, Ghaeli P, Jamshidi AH, Nasehi AA, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety of the adjunctive saffron on sexual dysfunction induced by a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. J Med Plants 2011;10:121-30.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12. Premkumar K, Thirunavukkarasu C, Abraham S, Santhiya S, Ramesh A. Protective effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract against genetic damage induced by anti-tumor agents in mice. Hum Exp Toxicol 2006;25:79-84.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13. Mokhtari M, Sharifi E, Daneshi A. Effects of Hydro-alcoholic extract of red dried stigmas of crocus sativus L. Flowers (saffron) on the levels of pituitary-ovary hormones and folliculogenesis in Rats. Int J Fertil Steril 2010;3:185-90.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14. Heidary M, Vahhabi S, Reza Nejadi J, Delfan B, Birjandi M, Kaviani H, et al. Effect of saffron on semen parameters of infertile men. Urol J 2008;5:255-9.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15. Jeyendran RS, Van der Ven HH, Perez-Pelaez M, Crabo BG, Zaneveld LJ. Development of an assay to assess the functional integrity of the human sperm membrane and its relationship to other semen characteristics. J Reprod Fertil 1984;70:219-28.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16. Turner TT, Lysiak JJ. Oxidative stress: A common factor in testicular dysfunction. J Androl 2008;29:488-98.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17. Hanukoglu I. Antioxidant protective mechanisms against reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by mitochondrial P450 systems in steroidogenic cells. Drug Metab Rev 2006;38:171-96.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18. Mahi CA, Yanagimachi, R. Induction of nuclear decondensation of mammalian spermatozoa in vitro. J Reprod Fertil 1975;44:293-6.  Back to cited text no. 18
    
19. Agarwal A NK, Allamaneni SS, Said TM. Role of antioxidants in treatment of male infertility: An overview of the literature. Reprod Bio Med Online 2004;8:616-27.  Back to cited text no. 19
    
20. Halliwell B. Free radicals, antioxidants, and human disease: Curiosity, cause, or consequence? Lancet 1994;344:721-4.  Back to cited text no. 20
    
21. Sikka SC. Oxidative stress and role of antioxidants in normal and abnormal sperm function. Front Biosci 1996;1:78-86.  Back to cited text no. 21
    
22. Makker K, Sharma R. Oxidative stress and male infertility. Indian J Med Res 2009;129:357-67.  Back to cited text no. 22
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
23. Agarwal A, Gupta S, Sharma RK. Role of oxidative stress in female reproduction. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2005;3:1-21.  Back to cited text no. 23
    
24. Agarwal A, Makker K, Sharma R. Clinical relevance of oxidative stress in male factor infertility: An update. Am J Reprod Immunol 2007;59:2-11.  Back to cited text no. 24
    
25. Sigman M, Jarow J. Male Infertility. In: Wein AJ, editor, Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9 th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Sanders Elsevier; 2007. p. 609-53.  Back to cited text no. 25
    
26. Dominguez-Rebolledo AE, Fernandez-Santos MR, Bisbal A, Ros-Santaella JL, Ramon M, Carmona M, et al. Improving the effect of incubation and oxidative stress on thawed spermatozoa from red deer by using different antioxidant treatments. Reprod Fertil Dev 2010;22:856-70.  Back to cited text no. 26
    
27. Kumar V, Bhat Z, Kumar D, Khan N, Chashoo I, Shah M. Pharmacological profile of crocus sativus-a comprehensive review. Pharmacologyonline 2011;3:799-811.  Back to cited text no. 27
    
28. Safarinejad MR, Shafiei N, Safarinejad S. A prospective double-blind randomized placebo‐controlled study of the effect of saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) on semen parameters and seminal plasma antioxidant capacity in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Phytother Res 2011;25:508-16.  Back to cited text no. 28
    
29. Uzunhisarcikli M, Kalender Y, Dirican K, Kalender S, Ogutcu A, Buyukkomurcu F. Acute, subacute and subchronic administration of methyl parathion-induced testicular damage in male rats and protective role of vitamins C and E. Pestic Biochem Physiol 2007;87:115-22.  Back to cited text no. 29
    
30. Suleiman SA, Ali ME, Zaki ZM, el-Malik EM, Nasr MA. Lipid peroxidation and human sperm motility: Protective role of vitamin E. J Androl 1996;17:530-7.  Back to cited text no. 30
    
31. Paradiso Galatioto G, Gravina GL, Angelozzi G, Sacchetti A, Innominato PF, Pace G, et al. May antioxidant therapy improve sperm parameters of men with persistent oligospermia after retrograde embolization for varicocele? World J Urol 2008;26:97-102.  Back to cited text no. 31
    
32. Keskes-Ammar L, Feki-Chakroun N, Rebai T, Sahnoun Z, Ghozzi H, Hammami S, et al. Sperm oxidative stress and the effect of an oral vitamin E and selenium supplement on semen quality in infertile men. Arch Androl 2003;49:83-94.  Back to cited text no. 32
    
33. Momeni HR. Soleimani Mehranjani M, Abnosi MH, Mahmoodi M. Effects of vitamin E on sperm parameters and reproductive hormones in developing rats treated with para-nonylphenol. Iran J Reprod Med 2009;7:111-6.  Back to cited text no. 33
    
34. Kessopoulou E, Powers H, Sharma K, Pearson M, Russell J, Cooke I, et al. A double-blind randomized placebo cross-over controlled trial using the antioxidant vitamin E to treat reactive oxygen species associated male infertility. Fertil Steril 1995;64:825-31.  Back to cited text no. 34
    
35. Razavi S, Nasr-Esfahani M, Deemeh M, Shayesteh M, Tavalaee M. Evaluation of zeta and HA‐binding methods for selection of spermatozoa with normal morphology, protamine content and DNA integrity. Andrologia 2010;42:13-9.  Back to cited text no. 35
    
36. Neild D, Chaves G, Flores M, Mora N, Beconi M, Agüero A. Hypo-osmotic test in equine spermatozoa. Theriogenology 1999;51:721-7.  Back to cited text no. 36
    
37. Amann R, Graham J. Spermatozoal function. Equine Reproduction Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger; 1993. p. 715-45.  Back to cited text no. 37
    
38. Agarwal A, Prabakaran SA. Mechanism, measurement and prevention of oxidative stress in male reproductive physiology. Indian J Exp Biol 2005;43:963-74.  Back to cited text no. 38
    
39. World Health Organization. WHO Laboratory Manual for the examination of human semen and Sperm-cervical mucus interaction. 4 th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1999. p. 128.  Back to cited text no. 39
    
40. Kendall NR, McMullen S, Green A, Rodway RG. The effect of a zinc, cobalt and selenium soluble glass bolus on trace element status and semen quality of ram lambs. Anim Reprod Sci 2000;62:277-83.  Back to cited text no. 40
    
41. Miciñski P, Pawlicki K, Wielgus E, Bochenek M, Gogol P, Ficek B. Total reactive antioxidant potential and DNA fragmentation index as fertility sperm parameters. Reprod Biol 2011;11:135-44.  Back to cited text no. 41
    
42. Zhou Q, Griswold MD. Regulation of spermatogonia. In: StemBook. Cambridge (MA): Harvard Stem Cell Institute; 2008. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27035/ [Last accessed on 2008 Jul 14].  Back to cited text no. 42
    
43. Modaresi M, Mesripour M, Asadi Morghmaleki M, Hamedanian M. The effect of saffron extract on testis tissue. Iran J Med Aromat Plants 2008; 237-43.  Back to cited text no. 43
Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume 2014, june
June 2014
Pages 1-7