ABSTRACT

The reasons for the declining trend in sperm quality and quantity observed in the last decades are not completely known. Cadmium (Cd) is widely distributed in the environment and has been recognized as a reproductive toxicant. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of curcuminoids against cadmium-induced-subfertility and antioxidant status in Albino rats. A total of 45 Albino rats divided into 9 groups were used for the study. Group 1 was fed with feeds and water ad libitum (negative control). Group 2-4 were administered with 120 mg/kg, 240 mg/kg and 360 mg/kg curcuminoids daily for 28 days. Group 5 was administered with 20 mg/kg cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) solution every other day for 28 days (positive control), while group 6 was administered with 20mg/kg CdCl₂ and 240 mg/kg curcuminoids simultaneously every other day for 28 days. Group 7 was administered with 20mg/kg CdCl₂ every other day for 28 days, then treated with 240 mg/kg for 14 days. Group 8 was administered 20 mg/kg CdCl₂ solution every other day for 28 days, then treated with 240 mg curcuminoids for 28 days. Group 9 was administered with 20 mg/kg CdCl₂ solution every other day for 28 days and left to recover without treatment with curcuminoids for another 28 days. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 24 hours after the last treatment. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and serum used for catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione  (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, full blood count using Spectrophotometry technique and haematology auto-analyzer respectively. The testes were excised for histological examination using microscopic technique. Semen was obtained by dissecting the seminiferous tubules of the left testes and used for semen analysis, acrosome number were determined using microscopic technique and seminal plasma CAT, GPx, GSH, SOD and MDA were also assayed. Data were compared using Students t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Sperm motility (67.0 ± 9.7 vs 77.2 ± 14.6), sperm count (54.6 ± 12.1 vs 92.8 ± 11.8) were significantly lower (p<0.001), while acrosome defect (3.2 ± 2.3 vs 0.00 ± 0.0) was higher among group 5 rats (positive control) compared with group 1 (negative control). Sperm motility increased with concentrations of curcuminoids used in group 2 (112.0 ± 13.5), group 4 (144.2 ± 7.0) compared with group 1 (92.8 ± 11.8). The administration of graded concentrations of curcuminoids ameliorated the harmful effect of CdCl₂ on sperm motility, sperm count, antioxidant enzymes and acrosome defect (p<0.001). Administration of Curcuminoids ameliorated the toxicity of CdCl₂ on antioxidant enzymes and MDA in blood and seminal plasma in dose dependent manner. Curcuminoids did not only increased sperm indices, antioxidant status and haematological indices, it conferred some measures of protection against CdCl₂ induced toxicity in Albino rats.