The protective effect of vitamin C on phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia on sperm quality and in-vitro embryo development in mice

Background: Phenylhydrazine (PHZ) induced anemia and was shown to have harmfuleffects on the male reproductive system.Objective: To investigate the protective effect of vitamin C (Vit C) on sperm parametersquality, in vitro fertilization potential and embryonic development in a mouse model ofhemolytic anemia induced by PHZ.Materials and Methods: Thirty-two NMRI adult male mice (n = 8/each) were randomlyclassified into four groups. Group I (control) received normal saline, Group II (PHZ)received 8 mg/100 gr body weight PHZ as initial dose, continued by 6 mg/100gr intraperitoneally every 48 hr, Group III (Vit C) received Vit C (10 mg/kg, daily,intraperitoneally), and group IV (PHZ + Vit C) received PHZ and Vit C. After 35 days,sperm quality parameters, the percentage of sperm with DNA damage and in vitrofertilization outcomes up to blastocyst stage were evaluated.Results: A significant (p < 0.001) reduction in all of the sperm parameters (count,motility, viability and normal morphology) were observed in group II (PHZ) comparedwith group I (control). In group IV (PHZ ± Vit C), these parameters and sperm DNAdamage (p < 0.001) improved significantly when compared with PHZ-treated mice.Furthermore, PHZ caused a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the fertilization rateand the percentage of pre-implantation embryos’ (two cell embryo and blastocyst)formation in comparison to group I (control), and Vit C supplementation in mice of groupIV improved significantly the fertilization rate (p = 0.002), but it could not improve thepercentage of two cell embryos and blastocyst production.Conclusion: The data from this study indicated that Vit C decreased the adverseeffects of PHZ on the quality of sperm parameters and in vitro fertilization rate, butit is insufficient to restore the in-vitro embryonic development and fertility potential.

Keywords:

Vitamin C , Phenylhydrazine , Sperm , Fertilization , Mice