Lithium carbonate inducing disorders in three parameters of rat sperm

Authors

1 Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Science and Research University, Isfahan, Iran

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

3 Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Falavarjan University, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Lithium has a significant impact in reducing the symptoms of bipolar mania but in long periods of use with therapeutic doses can cause several disorders in various organs including the reproductive system. In this study, the effect of lithium on the sperm concentration and motility and forms of abnormal cells has been examined.
Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats under the 48-day treatment with lithium carbonate at doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg bw/day were kept in standard conditions. At the end of this period, sperm cells isolated from the cauda epididymis were counted, motility was estimated, and stained with smear papanicolaou stain.
Results: In lithium-treated groups, the rate of spermatogenesis and sperm quality were reduced and was seen in a dose-dependent manner.
Discussion: Lithium alters intracellular signaling pathways such as inositol phosphate metabolic cycle and cyclic adenosine mono phosphate (cAMP) system and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. It also interferes in the division of sex cells to produce mature sperm and showed changes in the sperm cell membrane, function, and structure.

Keywords

1. Isidori AM, Pozza C, Gianfrilli D, Isidori A. Medical treatment to improve sperm quality. Reprod Biomed 2006;12:704-14.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2. Joffe M. Semen quality analysis and the idea of normal fertility. Asian JAndrol 2010;12:79-82.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3. Yanagimachi R. Mechanism of fertilization. International symposium of male factor in human infertility Surseine. France: 1994. p. 21-2.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4. Macleod J. Human male infertility. NEJM 1956;225:1140-6.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5. Mann T, Lutwak-Mann C. Male reproductive function and semen. J R Soc Med 1982;75:289-98.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6. Mohri H. Epididymal maturation and motility of mammalian spermatozoa. In: Serino M, editor. Prespective in andrology. Vol. 53. NewYork: Raven Press; 1989. p. 291-2.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7. Majumder GC, Dey CS, Haldar S, Barua M. Biochemical parameters of initiation and regulation of sperm motility. Arch Androl 1990;24:287-303.  Back to cited text no. 7
[PUBMED]    
8. Ferrel J, Jeffay S, Suare ZJ, Robert N, Kline Felter ER, Laskey JW, et al. The Ethane di-methane sulphonate-induced decrease in the fertilizing ability of cauda epididymal, sperm is independent of the testis. J Androl 1994;15:318-27.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9. Plassman S, Urwyler H. Improved risk assessment by screening sperm parameters. Toxicol Lett 2001;119:157-71.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10. Zarnescu O, Zamfirescu G. Effect of Lithium carbonate on rat seminiferous tubules an ultra structural study. Int J Androl 2006;29:576-82.  Back to cited text no. 10
[PUBMED]    
11. Banerji TK, Maitra SK, Dey M, Hawkins HK. Gametogenic responses of the testis in spotted munia (Lonchurapunctulata, Aves) to oral administration of lithium chloride. Endocr Res 2001;27:345-56.  Back to cited text no. 11
[PUBMED]    
12. Marshall PN. Papanicolaou staining-a review. Microsc Acta 1983;87:233-43.  Back to cited text no. 12
[PUBMED]    
13. Thakur SC, Thakur SS, Chaube SK, Singh SP. Subchronic supplementation of Lithium carbonate induces reproductive system toxicity in male rat. Reprod Toxicol 2003;17:683-90.  Back to cited text no. 13
[PUBMED]    
14. Garacia Aseff S, Fuentes LB. Lithium effect on testicular tissue of adult male and female viscacha. Acta Physiol Pharmacol 1995;45:87-95.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15. Bouchard P, Penningroth SM, Cheung A, Eagnon C, Bardin CW. Erythro-9-[3(2-Hydroxynonyl)] adenine is an inhibitor of sperm motility that blocks dyneine ATP ase and protein carboxyl methylase activities. Natl Acad Sci USA 1981;89:1303-36.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16. Lawson CH, Goupil S, Leclerc P. Increased activity of the Human sperm Tyrosine Kinase by the CAMP-Dependent pathway in the presence of calcium. Biol Reprod 2008;79:657-66.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17. Luconi M, Marroo F, Gandidni L, Filimberti E, Lenzi A, Froti G, et al. Phospatidylinositol3-kinase: Inhabitation enhances human sperm motility. Hum Reprod 2001;16:1931-7.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18. Carlson AE, Hille B, Babcock DF. External Ca2 acts upstream of adenyltlcyclase in the bicarbonate signaled of sperm motility. Dev Biol 2007;312:183-92.  Back to cited text no. 18
[PUBMED]    
19. Henderson NA, Robaire B. Effects of a dual 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor on rat epididymal sperm maturation and fertility. Biol Reprod 2005;72:436-43.  Back to cited text no. 19
[PUBMED]    
20. Bahat A, Eisenbach M. Human sperm Termotaxis is mediated by phospolipase C and Inositol Triphosphate receptor Ca2+channel. Biol Reprod 2010;82:606-16.  Back to cited text no. 20
[PUBMED]    
21. King J, Regina T, Ryves J, Hawood A. The mood stabilizer Lithium suppresses PIP3 signaling in dictiostelium and human cells. Biochem Soc Trans 2009;2:306-12.  Back to cited text no. 21
    
22. Carla DB, Fernand Z. Lithium blocks cell cycle transition in the first cell cycle of sea urchin embryos an effect rescued by myo-inositol. Development 1997;124:1099-107.  Back to cited text no. 22
    
23. Rosselli M, Dubey RK, Imthurn B, Macas E, Keller PJ. Effects of nitric oxide on human spermatozoa: Evidence that nitric oxide decreases sperm motility and induces sperm toxicity. Hum Reprod 1995;10:1786-90.  Back to cited text no. 23
[PUBMED]    
24. Miraglia E, De Angelis F, Gazzano E, Hassanpour H, Bertagna A, Aldieri E, et al. Nitric oxide stimulates human sperm motility via activation of the cyclic GMP/protein kinase G signaling pathway. Reproduction 2011;141:47-54.  Back to cited text no. 24
[PUBMED]    
25. Bagetta G, Corasaniti MT, Melino G, Paoletti AM, Finazziagro A, Nistico G. Lithium and Tacrne increase the expression of Nitric Oxide synthase Mrna in the Hippocampus of Rat. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1993;197:1132-9.  Back to cited text no. 25
    
26. Marchetti C, Obert G, Deffosez A, Formstecher P, Marcheti P. Study of mitochondrial membrane potential reactive oxygen species, DNA fragmentation and cell viability by flow cytometry in human sperm. Hum Reprod 2002;17:1257-65.  Back to cited text no. 26
    
27. Vijayaraghavan S, Mohan J, Gray H, Khata B, Carr DW. A role for Phosphorylation of Glycogen synthase kinase-3 alpha in bovine sperm motility regulation. Biol Reprod 2000;62:1646-54.  Back to cited text no. 27
    
28. Stambolic V, Ruel L, Woodgett JR. Lithium inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3 activity and mimics wingless signalling in intact cells. Curr Biol 1996;6:1664-8.  Back to cited text no. 28
[PUBMED]    
29. Gosh PK, Biswase NM, Gosh D. Effect of Lithium chloride on spermatogenesis and testicular steroidogenesis in mature albino rats: Duration dependent responses. Life Sci 1999;48:649-57.  Back to cited text no. 29
    
30. Boyer A, Hermo L, Paquet M, Robaire B, Boerboom D. Seminiferous tubule degeneration and infertility in mice with sustained activation of WNT/CTNNB1 signaling in sertoli cells. Biol Reprod 2008;79:475-85.  Back to cited text no. 30
[PUBMED]    
31. Fleischman A, Lenz P, Bierenbaum M. Effect of lithium upon lipid metabolism in rats. J Nutr 1974;104:1242-5.  Back to cited text no. 31
    
32. Sharma S, Prasanthi RP, Schommer E, Feist G, Ghribi O. Hypercholesterolemia-induced Aβ accumulation in rabbit brain is associated with alteration in IGF-1 signaling. Neurobiol Dis 2008;32:426-32.  Back to cited text no. 32
    
33. Raof NT, Pearson RM, Turner P. Lithium inhibits human sperm motility in vitro. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1989;28:715-7.  Back to cited text no. 33