Chronic demyelination interferes with normal spermatogenesis in cuprizone-intoxicant C۵۷/BL ۶ mice: An experimental study

Background: Due to myelin and axonal insults in multiple sclerosis individuals, motor coordination problems and endocrine imbalance may develop. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the role of chronic demyelination on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: ۲۰ adult C۵۷/BL۶ male mice were divided into ۲ groups (n = ۱۰/each) as follows: the control group (CONT) received a regular diet for ۱۷ wk; and the experimental group (cuprizone [CPZ]) was fed with ۰.۲% CPZ for ۱۲ wk and, then CPZ was withdrawn for ۵ wk. Serum testosterone, histopathology of the brain and testis, and sperm analysis were evaluated. Results: The hypothalamic myelin content was significantly decreased in the arcuate nucleus following the ۱۲ wk of CPZ consumption compared to the CONT group, and the statistical difference remained until ۱۷ wk. Testosterone levels declined significantly in the CPZ group compared to the CONT group in the ۱۲th and ۱۷th wk. A significant decrease was observed in the height of the seminiferous epithelium and the interstitial tissue area, and the number of seminiferous epithelial cells in the CPZ group compared to the CONT group in the ۱۲th and ۱۷th wk. The sperm count, motility, and viability in the CPZ group significantly decreased compared to the CONT group in the ۱۲th and ۱۷th wk of the study. Conclusion: Chronic demyelination induced by CPZ intoxication, maybe through damage to the hypothalamus arcuate nucleus, leads to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis disturbance and damage to the testis and spermatogenesis subsequently.

Keywords:

Multiple sclerosis , Cuprizone , Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis , Spermatogenesis. , مولتیپل اسکلروزیس , کوپریزون , محور هیپوتالاموس- هیپوفیز- گناد , اسپرماتوژنز.