Efficacy of Concurrent Administration of Alpha‐Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C on Sperm Quality Parameters, Serum Total Oxidant and Antioxidant Status, and Testicular Histopathology in Varicocele‐Induced Adolescent and Adult Rats.

Akbarian, Saeede; Khaligh, Sahar Ghaffari; Ahmadi-Hamedani, Mahmood; Moslemi, Hamidreza; Jebelli Javan, Ashkan; Roy, Vikas Kumar

Varicocele is a leading cause of infertility in couples. It damages sperm and increases oxidative stress (OS) in seminal fluid. Antioxidant treatments like alpha‐lipoic acid (ALA) and vitamin C (VC) can improve sperm quality by reducing OS. This study aims to explore the combined effects of these antioxidants in reducing the negative impact of OS caused by varicocele‐induced adolescent (ADO) and adult (ADU) rats. This study included 50 male Wistar rats, comprising 25 ADU rats and 25 ADO divided into 10 groups of five. The groups and treatment include Group I (ADO‐Control) and VI (ADU‐Control): the healthy group, no treatment, Groups II (ADO‐Mock) and VII (ADU‐Mock): received normal saline for 2 months, Group III (ADO‐Varicocele‐VC) and VIII (ADU‐Varicocele‐VC): received VC (100 mg/kg), Group IV (ADO‐Varicocele‐ALA) and IX (ADU‐Varicocele‐ALA): received ALA (300 mg/kg), and Group V (ADO‐Varicocele‐VC ALA) and X (ADU‐Varicocele‐VC ALA): received VC (100 mg/kg) ALA (300 mg/kg). After 2 months of treatment, the rats were anesthetized. The sperm quality parameters, serum total oxidant and antioxidant properties, and testicular pathology were assessed. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the varicocele‐ALA VC and varicocele‐ALA groups compared to the varicocele‐VC and the Mock group (ADO and ADU). Additionally, there was a significant variance (p < 0.05) in the OS index between the varicocele‐ALA VC and Varicocele‐ALA groups compared to the other groups. The use of ALA has a positive impact on sperm parameters and the structure and function of testicular tissue, leading to a decrease in the OS index. Treatment with VC, along with other antioxidants like ALA, may provide a protective effect, but treatment with VC alone did not show significant effectiveness in varicocele‐induced ADO and ADU rats.

OXIDANT status; LIPOIC acid; TESTIS physiology; VITAMIN C; LABORATORY rats

Andrologia, 2024, Vol 2024, p1

0303-4569

Academic Journal

10.1155/and/9334912