Chromium nanoparticles affect antioxidant activity, hormones and sperm parameters in heat-stressed male rats: a model of mammals

摘要

The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of nano-chromium (nCr) administration on plasma antioxidant activity, hormones and sperm quality and quantity in male rats exposed to heat stress. Twenty rats were randomly divided into four treatments with five replicates. Treatments were done 35 days included: C, control group received normal saline as gavage and remained at 21 °C; T1, rats exposed to higher temperature than optimum (35 °C) for 6 h/d considered as heat stress (HS); T2, received nano chromium (80 μg/kg body weight) as gavage and remained at 21 °C, and T3, exposed to HS and received nCr. Rats exposed to heat stress had higher antioxidant enzymes activity compared with the control group (P <0.05). In stressed rats, nCr decreased superoxide dismutase, but had no effect on the activity of glutathione peroxidase. Heat stress resulted in decrease (P <0.05) and administration of nCr resulted in increase (P <0.05) in the levels of FSH and testosterone hormones as compared with control group, but had no effect on LH. Administration of nCr in stressed rats (T3) had no effect (P >0.05) on insulin, cortisol and glucose levels as compared with rats in T1 group. Administration of nCr in stressed rats (T3) increased (P >0.05) sperm concentration, viability and normal sperms, as compared with T1 and the control groups, but nCr had no effect on non-stressed rats (T2). It was concluded that nano-particle of chromium administration to stressed rats could ameliorate the negative effects of oxidative stress on antioxidant capacity, activities and sperm quality and quantity.