Effects of Long-term Administration of Aspartame on Sperm Parameters, Sex Hormones and Testis Histomorpho-merical Indices in Mice Model

Background: Aspartame is a non-nutritive sweetener particu-larly used in ‘diet’ and ‘lowcalorie’ products and also in a va-riety of foods, drugs and hygiene products. The aim of the pre-sent study was to assess potential adverse effects of aspartame on sperm parameters, sex hormones and histomorphometrical indices of testis tissue in mice model.Materials and Methods: Thirty-six adult male NMRI mice were randomly divided into 4 groups of 9 animals each, includ-ing control group (received 0.3 ml normal saline) and aspar-tame groups (received 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg b.w, respectively). All animals were daily treated by gavage. After 90 days, ani-mals were killed by cutting neck vessels under light anesthesia, serum samples were collected for hormonal evaluations. There-after, testicles and caudal epididymis were removed for histo-morphometrical and sperm analysis.Results: The results showed that there was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in sperm count at all administrated doses (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg) compared with the control group. Moreover, aspartame significantly (P<0.05) decreased sperm motility, viability and maturation while significantly (P<0.05) increased sperm abnormality DNA damage at 80 and 160 mg/ kg in comparison with control group. Also, long-term adminis-tration of aspartame significantly (P<0.05) lowered serum con-centrations of FSH and LH at doses of 80 and 160 mg/kg, and testosterone at dose of 160 mg/kg. In other hand, histomorho-logical indices including TDI (Tubular differentiation index), SPI (spermiogenesis index) and RI (Repopulation index) were significantly reduced at doses of 80 and 160 mg/kg.Conclusion: Our findings revealed that long-term administra-tion of aspartame at high doses adversely affects sperm param-eters, sex hormones and testis histomorphometrical indexes in male mice model.

Keywords:

Aspartame , Sperm Parameters , Mice