Saffron improves epididymal sperm parameters in rats exposed to cadmium.
BACKGROUND
Cadmium (Cd) is known to cause various disorders in the testis. The general population may be exposed to Cd through ingestion of food and drinking water, inhalation of particulates from ambient air, tobacco smoke and ingestion of contaminated soil and dust. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is widely used as a food flavour, and has well known medicinal effects.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of saffron on the results of semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility and viability in cauda of epididymis) in rats exposed to cadmium.


METHODS
Thirty Wistar male rats were divided into four groups. Cadmium chloride (1 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally during 16 days at intervals of 48 hours between subsequent treatments. Crocus sativus L. (100 mg/kg b.w., IP) was pretreated in both control and cadmium-injected rats. Both control and cadmium-injected rats were pretreated with Crocus sativus L. (100 mg/kg b.w., IP). The animals were killed and their sperm count, motility, and vitality were evaluated.


RESULTS
Sperm parameters did not differ significantly between control and sham groups. Following contamination with cadmium, sperm count, motility and vitality were significantly decreased in comparison to control group (P < 0.05). In pretreated (saffron) group, the sperm parameters improved significantly in comparison with cadmium group (P ≤ 0.05). A significant decrease in sperm motility was observed in Cd-treated rats compared to the control rats. However, no significant changes were recorded by comparison of the control and saffron treated groups except for the sperm motility parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
Saffron, as an antioxidant, is positively effective on sperm parameters in rats exposed with cadmium.
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Asadi
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Fariba
F
Zafari
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Arash
A
Sarveazad
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Mehdi
M
Abbasi
Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Majid
M
Safa
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran ; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Morteza
M
Koruji
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Abazar
A
Yari
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Rafieh
R
Alizadeh Miran
Cadmium; Crocus; Rats; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility