title: Curcumin influences semen quality parameters and reverses the di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)-induced testicular damage in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Curcumin is a phytochemical derived from rhizome of turmeric Curcuma longa, present in the curry spice. Recently, it has attracted the attention of researchers and clinicians as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent with a potential use in therapy of many diseases with an inflammatory component. Interestingly, curcumin despite its very low bioavailability showed protective activity against many organ lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study we investigated the effects of curcumin treatment on mice semen quality parameters in vitro and on semen and testicular damage induced by di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study demonstrated protective effects of low concentrations (1-50 μM) of curcumin on mouse sperm motility in vitro and on DEHP-induced damage of seminiferous tubules in testes and its ability to diminish the decrease in sperm motility in vivo. In contrast, curcumin used in high concentration (100 μM) decreased sperm motility and viability in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of curcumin were dependent on its concentration. In male germ cells in vivo the protective effect was seen despite the low bioavailability of curcumin. In contrast, high, unattainable in the organism, concentration of curcumin had a cytotoxic effect on male reproductive cells in vitro. Curcumin also had a protective effect against the harmful impact of DEHP on the male reproductive system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Głombik
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: basta@if-pan.krakow.pl.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basta-Kaim
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sikora-Polaczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubera
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Starowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Józefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Styrna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; DEHP; Semen quality parameters; Testicular damage