Impact of arsenic(V) on testicular oxidative stress and sperm functional attributes in Swiss albino mice

The arsenic (As) is a multi system effector including reproduction. The present study examined the association of graded doses of As(V) on testicular microenvironment and sperm function in mice. Thirty-six adult male mice were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 6). Group A served as control without test chemical. The groups B, C, D, E, and F were administered graded doses of 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 ppm As(V), respectively, through drinking water for 40 days. A dose-dependant significant (P < 0.05) decrements were observed in epididymal sperm kinematic attributes (progressive motility, rapid, fast progressive, VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, STR, WOB and TYPE A (STR > 80 %, ALH 2.5 mu m) by CASA), viability, plasma membrane functional integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential which were associated with insignificant decrease in serum testosterone levels. The histoarchitectural studies of testes showed progressive loss of spermatozoa concentration in the seminiferous tubules as the As(V) dose increased. The mice exposed to As(V) had an increase in the As accumulation, protein carbonylation, and lipid peroxidation levels associated with alterations in SOD, CAT, and GST activities in the testes. In conclusion, higher doses of As(V) (more than 50 ppm) were found to be testicular toxicants which impaired semen quality by inducing oxidative stress in the testicular microenvironment.