title: Effect of long-term administration of zinc after scrotal heating on mice spermatozoa and subsequent offspring quality.
abstract: This study was set to investigate whether the adverse effects of heat on spermatozoa and subsequent foetuses could be prevented by long-term zinc administration. The scrotums of animals were immersed in water at either 43 degrees C (heat group) or 23 degrees C (control group). Half of the heat and control mice were given 10 mg kg(-1) zinc every other day for 60 days and the others received sterile saline instead of zinc. Heat stress significantly reduced sperm motility, concentration, hypoosmotic swelling-water test (HOS-WT) positive and chromomycin A(3) (CMA(3)) negative spermatozoa at the first 15 days, and the greatest decrease occurred at 30 days (P < 0.05). Sperm motility, concentration and HOS-WT positive spermatozoa were also reduced initially in the zinc administered group, but we did not observe any further decrease in the above mentioned parameters on day 30 (P < 0.05). The weight of foetuses obtained from the females mated with paternal heat treatment males was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05) and long-term zinc therapy caused a partial recovery (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that the adverse effects of hyperthermia on semen parameters may be prevented by zinc therapy. Likewise, long-term administration of zinc could improve quality of litter obtained from the females mated with scrotal heat treatment males.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ghasemi
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Babaei
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Azizallahi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kheradmand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011479:Protamines / Q000187:drug effects; D012611:Scrotum; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011479:Protamines; D019287:Zinc Sulfate