Protective effect of nutritional supplementation of zinc-sulfate against cisplatin-induced spermatogonial and testicular dysfunctions in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats

Zinc (Zn) has proven to play a key role in spermatogenesis. The present study focused on the nutritional supplementation of Zn against cisplatin (CP)-induced spermatogonial and testicular dysfunctions.

Thirty-two (32) mature male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into four groups of eight (n = 8) rats each – Control group (received 2 ml of normal saline); Zn group (received 1 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of Zn sulfate); Cisplatin group treated intraperitoneally with a single dose (10 mg/kg bwt) of CP; and CP + Zn group, after induction of testicular toxicity, were treated (orally) with 1 mg/kg bwt of Zn sulfate. The procedure lasted for 8 weeks. Parameters tested include testicular histology, sperm parameters, testosterone (TT), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).

Cisplatin significantly decreases (p < 0.05) sperm quality, testosterone, FSH and LH, epithelial cell height, tubular diameter, number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids with concomitant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Zinc supplementation reversed the toxic effect of CP on sperm characterization, hormone profiling, histological and biochemical parameters.

Zinc supplementation, therefore, ameliorates the deleterious effect of CP on cytoarchitecture of the testis, protected the seminiferous epithelium, and reduced oxidative stress thereby promoting spermatogenesis.