Could vitamin C and zinc chloride protect the germ cells against sodium arsenite?

Abstract

<jats:p> Arsenic (As) is commonly associated with natural and human processes such as volcanic emissions, mining and herbicides production, being an important pollutant. Several studies have associated As intake with male fertility reduction, thus the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether vitamin C and/or zinc would counteract As side effects within the testicles. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into six experimental groups: control, sodium arsenite (5 mg/kg/day), vitamin C (100 mg/kg/day), zinc chloride (ZnCl<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>; 20 mg/kg/day), sodium arsenite + vitamin C and sodium arsenite + ZnCl<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>. Testicles and epididymis were harvested and either frozen or routinely processed to be embedded in glycol methacrylate resin. As reduced the seminiferous epithelium and tubules diameter due to germ cell loss. In addition, both the round spermatids population and the daily sperm production were reduced. However, ZnCl<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> and vitamin C showed to be effective against such side effects, mainly regarding to sperm morphology. Long-term As intake increased the proportions of abnormal sperm, whereas the concomitant intake of As with zinc or vitamin C enhanced the proportions of normal sperm, showing that such compounds could be used to protect this cell type against morphological defects. </jats:p>

Contemporary Comprehensive Review on Arsenic-Induced Male Reproductive Toxicity and Mechanisms of Phytonutrient Intervention

“…Combined oral treatment of zinc chloride and vitamin C at doses of 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg restored sperm morphology, count, and seminiferous tubule diameter. Zinc works as a cofactor for SOD and can chelate As, demonstrating its antioxidant properties in rats, whereas Vitamin C at a dose of 200 mg/kg increased testosterone, FSH, and LH and improved histopathological lesions in Teddy goat bucks [195]. Oral administration of Alchornea cordifolia at 100 µg/kg for 30 days raised testosterone, FSH, spermatozoa count, and motility, as well as the expression of androgen receptor binding protein, and anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 in the testis of rats [196].…”

Vitamin C mitigates heat damage by reducing oxidative stress, inducing HSP expression in TM4 Sertoli cells

“…Supplementation with Vc can also mitigate heat-related damage and enhance heat resistance in animals (Jang, Ko, Moon, & Sohn, 2014;Panda et al, 2008;Rafiee, Mazhari, Ghoreishi, & Esmaeilipour, 2016;Redmond et al, 2010). In male reproductive system, Vc is an essential micronutrient for the development of male germ cells (Altoe, Reis, Gomes, Dolder, & Priovani, 2017;Angulo et al, 2011), Angulo et al (2008) found that Sertoli cells express Vc functional transport systems, which can participate directly in Vc transport throughout the BTB.…”

Review on the role of antioxidant supplementation against oxidative stress: a human and animal approach to male fertility

“…Reproductive problems associated with arsenic exposure seem to occur as a consequence of excessive ROS formation, along with decreased testosterone synthesis (Prathima et al, 2018). However, in rats, vitamin C or zinc chloride administration contributed to decreased sperm defects (Altoé et al, 2017). Another promising antioxidant against arsenic is the lipoic acid, a potent free radical scavenger.…”