Protective effect of Curcumin on the structure of testis and sperm parameter due to chronic variable stress in adult male rat

Background: Protracted and repeated exposure to chronic variable stress (CVS) may lead to reproductive dysfunction .It is a basic cause of male infertility. Curcumin is an active fraction of turmeric that used in traditional Chinese medicine. Curcumin represent various pharmacological activities. Objective: The purpose of this study was determination the effect of curcumin on testis and Testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and Cortisol, semen parameters, acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, acrosome-intacted spermatozoa, and testis stereological structure were evaluated in rats with establishing chronic variable stress. Material and Methods: Ninety eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups as control, distilled water, Curcumin (CUR) (100 mg/kg/day dissolved in 0.5 mL of olive oil), olive oil, chronic variable stress (CVS), CVS+CUR, and olive oil+CVS designed. Half of the animals were sacrificed after 15 days and the second half was allowed to recover for 50 days. Half of the animals were sacrificed after 15 days and the second half was allowed to recover for 50 days. Testosterone, FSH, LH and Cortisol, semen parameters, acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, acrosome-intacted spermatozoa, and testis stereological structure were evaluated Results: Significant deviations from the normal range occurred in testosterone ,FSH, LH and cortisol serum levels, semen parameters, percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa and seminiferous tubules apoptotic cells in CVS and CVS+ recovery groups compared to the control rats (P<0.01). Besides, tubules’ length, epithelial volume, number of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, Spermatogonia (types A and B), Spermatocytes, and Spermatids (elongated and round) were reduced by 40-63% in the CVS animals in comparison to the control ones (P<0.01). During the CVS+ recovery period, the aforementioned parameters were reduced by 20-50%. These parameters changed to a lesser extent in CVS+CUR animals compared to the CVS rats with or without a recovery period (P<0.01). Conclusion: Our findings propose that curcumin might have curative potential on the reproductive system function and its impairment. Curcumin could moderate effects of chronic variable stress by regulating reproductive-related hormones. Keywords: Testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, CVS, Curcumin