TOBACCO TOTAL ALKALOIDS INDUCE REDUCED SPERM QUALITY, SEXUAL HORMONE DECREASE AND TESTICULAR DAMAGES IN MALE ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Aims: The aim of our study was to assess tobacco total alkaloids reproductive toxicity in male rats, and to determine the mechanisms of tobacco-induced reprotoxic effects.

Study Design: Experimental study on laboratory animals.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of life sciences (Djillali Liabes university, Sidi-Bel-Abbes, Algeria), and the laboratory of Applied Biochemistry (Es-Senia university, Oran, Algeria) between march 2015 and July 2015.

Methodology: In this study, we used fifteen male WISTAR rats aged of two months, divided into three groups (n=5), and treated by gavage during 30 days by tobacco total alkaloids extract obtained from locale marketed tobacco powder, at a rate of 2,5 mg/kg (G1) and 5 mg/kg (G2) in order to evaluate dose dependent effects. Controls (G3) received the vehicle (distilled water). We used genital organs, blood and sperm samples from different animals to realize biochemical and histological tests.

Results: Data indicated that tobacco total alkaloids significantly decreased relative weight of testes and epididymis, but not the bodyweight in treated groups. A dose dependent decrease in sperm count, and a higher decrease in motility and viability of sperm cells were observed in treated groups. We observed also a decrease in Testosterone, FSH and LH levels in animals treated by tobacco total alkaloids as compared to controls. The examination of testicular cross section revealed an alteration of the histological structure with interstitial tissue hypotrophy and a deterioration of spermatogenesis within seminiferous tubules. These findings were associated with a decrease in blood plasma and tissues total antioxidant activity and high levels of lipid peroxidation.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that tobacco total alkaloids are able to generate an oxidative-stress related reproductive toxicity in male rats.