Effects of concurrent chronic administration of alcohol and nicotine on rat sperm parameters

Abstract

The prevalence of cigarette and alcohol consumption is high among young adult males during the reproductive period. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of concurrent chronic administration of nicotine and ethanol on the quality of sperm in the rat. Fifty healthy Wistar male rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10) and were given the following for a period of 50 days: ethanol (E), nicotine (N), ethanol and nicotine (E/N); the control group (C) and an intact (I) group. Body weight as well as the weight, volume and dimensions of the testes and the weight of the cauda epididymidis and vas deference were measured. The concentration, motility, viability and membrane integrity of sperm were also assessed. There were no significant differences between body weight and all testis parameters including weight, volume and dimensions. The concentration and motility of sperm in the E/N group was significantly reduced compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Nevertheless, only a marginally significant decrease in sperm viability was found in the E/N group compared with the control group. The study indicates that concurrent chronic administration of ethanol and nicotine may disturb male reproductive function.

Ethanol exposure during peripubertal period increases the mast cell number and impairs meiotic and spermatic parameters in adult male rats

“…This corroborates a previous study by our laboratory, in which adult male rats were treated with 2 g/kg ethanol 25% v/v for 63 consecutive days (Siervo et al, 2015). Ezzatabadipour et al (2012) also found no change in the body weight of rats. Cicero et al (1990) demonstrated that male Wistar rats (PND 25) treated with 6% alcohol for 39 days gained weight at the same rate as the control animals.…”

“…Similar to the findings by Priya et al (2014) using Wistar pubertal rats (PND 60) during 2 months of exposure to ethanol (2 g/kg) via orogastric tube, and by Ezzatabadipour et al (2012), we also found no changes in the sperm morphology, showing that ethanol does not affect the spermatogenic process in these experimental conditions. Conversely, Oliva et al (2006) found an increase in the number of abnormal sperm (sperm with broken tails and headless) in pubertal animals.…”

“…We suggest that the same dose of ethanol, for a period of 50 or 63 days of exposure to ethanol, affects sperm parameters at both peripubertal and adult age. Ezzatabadipour et al (2012) observed a significant reduction in sperm concentration in the epididymis of rats (age 9-12 weeks), after 50 days of exposure to ethanol by oral gavage (2 g/kg). Similarly, Oliva et al (2006) showed an acceleration of sperm transit in the epididymal cauda region, and a reduction in the number of sperm (relative and absolute) in both the caput/corpus and cauda.…”

Do Insulin Replacement and Omega3 Protect the Male Reproductive Function of the Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice?

“…The same slides were used for the morphology assessment. Any sperm with the head, midpiece, and tail anomaly was considered abnormal [18]. These experiments were carried out by two expert examiners blinded to the design of the study, as described elsewhere [19].…”

Protein profile screening: reduced expression of Sord in the mouse epididymis induced by nicotine inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation level in capacitated spermatozoa

“…The in vivo toxicological effects of nicotine have been assessed in many animal studies. In the male reproductive system, nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) can decrease sperm motility and count as well as increase the percentage of sperm abnormalities in rats (Oyeyipo et al 2011, Ezzatabadipour et al 2012. A more comprehensive study assessed testicular gametogenesis, steroidogenesis and the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory proteins in nicotine-treated rats.…”