Oxidative Stress Is Induced by Lithium Chloride in Human Sperm Motility and Viability-Protective Effects of Silymarin

Background: Lithium is an environmental pollutant which isused in pharmacy industry. Lithium chloride exerts harmful effectson male reproductive system and human sperm by inductionof oxidative stress. Sylimerin as a potent antioxidant extractedfrom Silybum marianum can reduce the oxidative stress.The aim of this study was to investigate if silymarin can protectthe harmful effects of lithium chloride on human sperm motility,viability, total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation.Materials and Methods: In this study, high quality spermatozoawere used. The samples were washed by human tubal fluidcontaining bovine serum albumin. The sperm suspensions weredivided into ۵ groups (۲×[۱۰]^۷ spermatoza per group). ۱. Spermatozoaat ۰ hour, ۲. Spermatozoa incubated for ۳ hours (control),۳. Spermatozoa treated with lithium chloride (۰.۵mM) for۳ hours, ۴. Spermatozoa treated with silymerin (۰.۱mM) for ۳hours and ۵. Spermatozoa treated with silymarin and lithiumchloride for ۳ hours. Sperm motility was performed accordingto World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and eosinnigrosinstaining, while malondialdehyde (MAD) and ferric reducingantioxidant power (FRAP) were assessed to investigatelipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity respectively.The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and P<۰.۰۵was considered significant.Results: Lithium chloride reduced a significant (P<۰.۰۰۰) inpercentage of motility, viability and total antioxidant capacity,while increased (P<۰.۰۰۱) the amount of MAD compared tothe control group. In the silymerin+lithium chloride group, silymarincould significantly (P<۰.۰۰۱) reverses the toxic effectof lithium chloride on these parameters, when compared to thelithium chloride group. The application of silymarin alone significantly(P<۰.۰۰۱) increased motility, viability, FRAP and decreasesdthe amount of MAD as compared to the control group.Conclusion: Lithium chloride by inducing oxidative stress exertstoxic effects on motility, viability, FRAP and MAD and silymarinas a potent antioxidant compensate the adverse effectsof lithium chloride.

کلیدواژه ها:

Lithium Chloride ، Silymerin ، Motility ، Viability ، Human Sperm