Effects of Tanacetum parthenium on Chromatin Quality, Sperm Parameters and Oxidative Stress in Mice

Background: Studies indicate that phytoestrogens and phytosterols have adverse effects on the male reproductive system. To our knowledge, the effects of Tanacetum parthenium on testicular tissue, spermatozoa chromatin integrity and free radical damage have not yet been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of T. parthenium administration on sperm parameters, testis histology, sperm DNA integrity and oxidative damage in adult male mice.  Methods: Eighteen adult male mice (۲-۳ months old) were randomly divided into ۳ groups: control, TP۱ and TP۲. TP۱ and TP۲ groups were separately gavaged with ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg T. parthenium. After harvesting the epididymis, sperm analysis was performed according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). The testicular tissue also passaged through the tissue routine process after being placed in a formalin fixative solution. To check the quality of sperm chromatin, a sperm smear was prepared and then stained with acridine orange dye and was examined with a fluorescent microscope. Biochemical parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol, catalase enzyme, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were measured in testicular tissue. Finally, data were analyzed by the analysis of variance in SPSS software, version ۱۶.  Results: A significant reduction was seen in sperm count and sperm morphology percentage and the germinal epithelium thickness in the TP۱ and TP۲ groups versus the control group. The spermatozoa with DNA damage in percentage were higher in the TP۱ group (۲۱.۲۲±۳.۷۰) and TP۲ group (۴۲.۶۰±۳.۷۳) compared to the control group (۲.۴۰±۴.۳). There were remarkable differences between the three groups in MDA (P≤۰.۰۰۱) and thiol (P≤۰.۰۰۱) levels. Catalase level (P≤۰.۰۰۱) was lower in the TP۱ and TP۲ groups than in the control group.  Conclusion: The results of this study showed that T. parthenium caused a significant decrease in sperm chromatin quality, MDA level and germinal epithelium thickness at both doses. A reduction was found in the antioxidant enzyme level in the mice administrated with ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg of T. parthenium.

Keywords:

Spermatozoa , Testis , Mice , Tanacetum parthenium , Chromatin , Oxidative stress