Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine (대한생식의학회)
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The effects of vitamin C and vitamin B12 on improving spermatogenesis in mice subjected to long-term scrotal heat stress

  • Nafiseh Moeinian (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Fatemeh Fadaei Fathabadi (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Mohsen Norouzian (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Hojjat-Allah Abbaszadeh (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Hamid Nazarian (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Azar Afshar (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Reza Soltani (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Fakhroddin Aghajanpour (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Abbas Aliaghaei (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Reza Mastery Farahani (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Mohammad-Amin Abdollahifar (Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences)
  • Received : 2023.12.08
  • Accepted : 2024.01.25
  • Published : 2024.12.31
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Abstract

Objective: Scrotal hyperthermia poses a significant threat to spermatogenesis and fertility in mammalian species. This study investigated the effects of vitamin B12 and vitamin C on spermatogenesis in adult male mice subjected to long-term scrotal hyperthermia. The rationale is based on the sensitivity of germ cells and epididymal sperm to increased scrotal temperatures. While various factors, both internal and external, can raise the testicular temperature, this study focused on the potential therapeutic roles of vitamins B12 and C. Methods: After inducing scrotal hyperthermia in mice, vitamin B12 and vitamin C were administered for 35 days. We assessed sperm parameters, serum testosterone levels, stereological parameters, the percentage of apoptotic cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the expression of the c-kit, stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna) genes. Results: Vitamin C was more effective than vitamin B12 in improving sperm parameters and enhancing stereological parameters. The study showed a significant decrease in apoptotic cells and a beneficial modulation of ROS and GSH levels following vitamin administration. Moreover, both vitamins positively affected the expression levels of the c-kit, Stra8, and Pcna genes. Conclusion: This research deepens our understanding of the combined impact of vitamins B12 and C in mitigating the effects of scrotal hyperthermia, providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies for heat stress-related infertility. The findings highlight the importance of considering vitamin supplementation as a practical approach to counter the detrimental effects of elevated scrotal temperatures on male reproductive health.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was prepared from the thesis by Nafiseh Moeinian, an MSc student at the Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Registration No. 43005493).

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