Protective effects of vitamins C and E on spermatogenesis of 1.5 Tesla magnetic field exposed rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate protective effects of vitamins E and C against 1.5 Tesla static magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on spermatogenesis parameters was the main goal of the present study.


METHODS
Ninety-two mature male rats were exposed to 1.5 T MRI static magnetic fields for 30 min with or without vitamins C and E alone or in combination. Animals were sacrificed and the testicular tissues were anatomically sectioned, stained, and the number of germ cells and the diameters of sperm ducts were measured and compared with sham and controls.


RESULTS
Results showed that compared to sham, static magnetic fields may reduce the germ cell count (P = 0.000) and sperm ducts diameters (P = 0.020), and vitamins C and E could modify the reduction in germ cell count (P = 0.019) but they did not show any protective effect on sperm duct diameter reduction (0.647).


CONCLUSIONS
The protective effects of vitamins C and E are different, and depend on the type of effects. It seems that the modifying effects of vitamins are to be additive, but vitamin E plays a more important role than vitamin C against the static magnetic field on spermatogenesis parameters in clinical MRI.
Department of Medical Physics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. monfared_ali@yahoo.com
Ali Shabestani
AS
Monfared
Seyed Gholam Ali
SG
Jorsaraei
Rooholah
R
Abdi
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid