title: Curcumin ameliorates aflatoxin-induced toxicity in mice spermatozoa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ameliorative effect of curcumin on aflatoxin-induced toxicity in mice spermatozoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young, inbred, Swiss-strain male albino mice (Mus musculus), weighing approximately 37 to 40 g, were obtained from Cadila Health Care, Ahmedabad, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aflatoxin was orally administered in 25 (low dose) and 50 (high dose) microg/0.2 mL olive oil to each animal, each day (750 and 1500 microg/kg body weight), respectively, with and without curcumin for 45 days. On 46th day the animals were killed by cervical dislocation. The cauda epididymis were removed and weighed, then was teased in normal saline to obtain spermatozoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm count, viability, and motility were assessed immediately. Sperm semidried smears were prepared on slides and stained by Papanicolaou stain to study sperm morphologic features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a dose-dependent spermicidal effect of aflatoxin. Sperm count, viability, and motility were statistically significantly reduced. Different morphologic abnormalities were encountered. Treatment with curcumin along with aflatoxin ameliorated aflatoxin-induced sperm count, immobilization, and viability, and improved the morphologic characteristics of the sperm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin has an ameliorative effect on sperm parameters and improves morphologic features of sperm in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Neeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mathuria
authors.forename: Ramtej Jayram
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003474:Curcumin