title: Dietary antioxidant supplementation did not affect declining sperm function with age in the mouse but did increase head abnormalities and reduced sperm production.
abstract: The present study aims to ascertain whether dietary administration of a mixture of vitamins C and E may prevent the negative effects of paternal age on male fertility variables in the mouse. Experimental males were fed a standard diet supplemented with either a low or high dose of vitamins C and E. Oocytes enclosed in cumulus masses were inseminated using a 2 x 2 factorial design established according to whether males were young (3-4 months of age) or aged (22-24 months of age) and whether they were fed a control or antioxidant diet. Aged males showed a significant decrease in number of spermatozoa/mg epididymis when compared to young males. Dietary supplementation with low doses of vitamins C and E did not have any effect on sperm quality, fertilization and conceptus development in vitro. However, high doses of dietary vitamins C and E decreased the number of spermatozoa/mg epididymis, and increased the percentage of spermatozoa with misshapen heads distended in the distal part. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with pharmacological doses of vitamins C and E may disturb spermatogenesis. The mechanism involved may be associated with either the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E or their inhibitory action on steroidogenesis by Leydig and/or Sertoli cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ten
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vendrell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tarín
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid