Complementary effects of coenzyme Q۱۰ and Lepidium sativum supplementation on the reproductive function of mice: An experimental study

Background: Coenzyme Q۱۰ (CoQ۱۰) and Lepidium sativum (LS) have therapeutic effects on infertility. Objective: To evaluate the combined effects of LS and CoQ۱۰ on reproductive function in adult male NMRI mice. Materials and Methods: Eighty three-months-old male mice (۳۵-۴۰ gr) were divided into ۴ groups   (n = ۱۰/each) of: control (treated with water), CoQ۱۰-treated (۲۰۰, ۳۰۰, and ۴۰۰ mg/kg/body weight), LS-treated (۲۰۰, ۴۰۰, ۶۰۰ mg/kg/body weight), and co-treated (LS [۶۰۰ mg/kg/body weight] + CoQ۱۰ [۲۰۰ mg/kg/body weight]) groups. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and gonadotropin realizing hormone (GnRH) levels were measured using ELISA method. The sperm quality was assessed using Sperm Class Analyzer® (SCA) CASA system and GnRH mRNA expression levels were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The number of sniffing and following behavior was significantly higher in LS-treated (۴۰۰ and ۶۰۰ mg/ml/body weight) groups than the control group (p = ۰.۰۰۰۷ and p = ۰.۰۰۱۰, respectively). The number of mounting and coupling behaviors was significantly higher in the CoQ۱۰ (۳۰۰ and ۴۰۰ mg/ml/body weight)-treated animals than the control group (p = ۰.۰۱۷۰ and p = ۰.۰۰۰۶, respectively). Co-treatment of CoQ۱۰ (۲۰۰ mg/ml/body weight) and LS (۶۰۰ mg/ml/body weight) significantly increased all aspects of sexual behaviors as well as the levels of serum testosterone (p = ۰.۰۰۱۱), luteinizing hormone (p = ۰.۰۰۶۲), and follicle-stimulating hormone (p = ۰.۰۰۰۱); sperm viability (p = ۰.۰۳۰۰) and motility (p = ۰.۰۰۱۰); and GnRH mRNA levels (p = ۰.۰۰۱۶) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The co-administration of CoQ۱۰ and LS significantly improves the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and enhances the reproductive parameters in adult male mice.

Keywords:

Lepidium sativum , Coenzyme Q۱۰ , Infertility , Male reproductive function. , گیاه شاهی , کوآنزیم Q۱۰ , ناباروری , سیستم تولید مثلی.