title: Saccharin consumption increases sperm DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Saccharin is an artificial non-caloric sweetener that used to sweeten products such as drinks, candies, medicines, and toothpaste, but our bodies cannot metabolize it. Sodium saccharin is considered as an important factor in tumor promotion in male rats but not in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of saccharin consumption on sperm parameters and apoptosis in adult mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 14 adult male mice were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 served as control fed on basal diet and group 2 or experimental animals received distilled water containing saccharin (0.2% w/v) for 35 days. After that, the left cauda epididymis of each mouse was cut and placed in Ham's F10. Swimmed-out spermatozoa were used to analyze count, motility, morphology (Pap-staining) and viability (eosin-Y staining). Sperm DNA integrity, as an indicator of apoptosis, was assessed by SCD (sperm chromatin dispersion) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TUNEL) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following saccharin consumption, we had a reduction in sperm motility with respect to control animals (p=0.000). In addition, the sperm count diminished (17.70±1.11 in controls vs. 12.80±2.79 in case group, p=0.003) and the rate of sperm normal morphology decreased from 77.00±6.40 in control animals into 63.85±6.81 in saccharin-treated mice (p=0.001). Also, we saw a statistically significant increase in rates of sperm DNA damage and apoptosis in experimental group when compared to control one (p=0.001, p=0.002 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saccharin consumption may have negative effects on sperm parameters, and increases the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. ; Department of Andrology, Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Talebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. ; Department of Andrology, Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anvari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolghasem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbasi Sarcheshmeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omidi
keywords: Apoptosis; Mice; Saccharin; Sperm