An In vitro Study on the Protective Effect of Melatonin on Human Sperm Parameters Treated by Cadmium.

BACKGROUND

Male infertility account for nearly 50% of infertility cases. Cadmium is regarded as a well-known toxic metal for industrial applications; high amounts of cadmium in the human body can result in chronic toxicity. Melatonin as a free radical scavenger has anti-inflammatory, and even anti-cancer and antiapoptotic functions.

AIM: In this work, we evaluated the protective effect of melatonin on human sperm parameters treated by cadmium.

STUDY SETTING AND

DESIGN

This was an experimental study carried out from May to December 2019.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A total of 41 fresh semen samples were collected from fertile men and were divided into 4 groups: (1) control, (2) sperm +25 Nm cd, (3) sperm +25 nM cd +0.1 mM melatonin,(4) sperm +0.1 mM melatonin treated for 60 min. In all groups, semen analysis was performed for motility, viability and DNA fragmentation index (DFI).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The groups were compared using the ANOVA test.

RESULTS

The group treated with cadmium showed a significant decrease in rapid and slow motility, and survival rate compared with the control group (P < 0.05). However, the degree of DFI and sperm with non-progressive motility in the group treated with cadmium had a significant increase compared to the control (P < 0.05). The use of melatonin significantly improved sperm parameters such as motility, survival rate and decreased sperm DFI with non-progressive motility.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of melatonin reduces the amount of cadmium damage in human sperm in vitro.