Objective To explore the effect of sub-chronic acrylonitrile (ACN) exposure on seminal fructose and zinc contents in male rats and the relationship of sperm motion parameters with fructose and zinc contents.
Methods Forty healthy adult male SD rats (SPF degree) were randomly divided by weight into control group (corn oil), low dose group (ACN 12.5 mg/kg), medium dose group (ACN 25 mg/kg), and high dose group (ACN 50 mg/kg), with 10 male rats in each group. Exposure by gavage was conducted once daily, continuous 6 days every week, for 13 weeks. The male rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after the last exposure to detect seminal fructose and zinc contents, as well as epididymis sperm density, sperm viability, and sperm motility.
Results Compared to the control group, the seminal vesicle and prostate coefficients were lower in the medium and high dose groups (P=0.045, 0.011; P=0.048, 0.004). The contents of seminal fructose and zinc in each dose group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P=0.002, 0.000, 0.000; P=0.013, 0.016, 0.001). The sperm viability in each exposure group was also lower than that of the control group (P=0.043, 0.004, 0.014); the sperm density and sperm motility in the high dose group were decreased compared to the control group (P=0.007, P=0.031). Sperm viability had positive correlations with seminal fructose and zinc contents (r=0.672, P=0.001; r=0.611, P=0.000).
Conclusion Under current experimental conditions, sub-chronic ACN exposure might cause reproductive endocrine system damage in male rats, inhibit seminal vesicle and prostate secreting fructose and zinc, and influence sperm density, viability, and motility, resulting in adverse effects on sperm motion and fertility.
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