An in vitro study on reproductive toxicity of aluminium chloride on rabbit sperm: the protective role of some antioxidants.
An in vitro study using rabbit sperm was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of different concentrations of aluminium chloride (AlCl(3)) at 0, 2 and 4h of incubation on sperm motility and viability, oxidative status and the activities of some antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)), transaminases and acid phosphatase. The role of vitamin C (1 mM) or vitamin E (2 mM) was also investigated in counteracting deterioration caused by AlCl(3) on the tested parameters. Rabbit sperm was incubated with different concentrations of AlCl(3) (0, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mM) with or without vitamin C or vitamin E for 2 and 4 h. Results revealed that the percentage of motile and viable sperm decreased significantly after AlCl(3) treatment at 10, 15 and 20 mM and the response was both concentration and time dependent. Aluminium chloride at concentrations of 10, 15 and 20 mM caused significant induction of oxidative stress as evidenced by increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and inhibition in the activities of SOD and CAT. Increase in the activities of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) and decline in the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) were also observed at AlCl(3) concentrations of 15 and 20 mM. Co-incubation with either vitamin C or vitamin E resulted in marked degrees of protection against AlCl(3)-induced cytotoxic effects, represented in decreased TBARS levels and restoration of enzymes activities near control. On the other hand, no significant effect was exerted from vitamin C or vitamin E on motility and viability. The present study demonstrated that AlCl(3) caused deterioration in sperm motility and viability, enhancement of free radicals and alterations in enzymes activities. The antioxidants revealed protective effects against the cytotoxicity of AlCl(3).
Yousef
Mokhtar I
MI
Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, 163 Horreya Avenue, PO Box 832, El-Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Egypt. yousefmokhtar@yahoo.com
Kamel
Kamel I
KI
El-Guendi
Marwa I
MI
El-Demerdash
Fatma M
FM
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000077410:Aluminum Chloride; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002712:Chlorides / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000379:methods; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D000975:Antioxidants; D002712:Chlorides; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; D000077410:Aluminum Chloride; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid