Curcumin Modulation of Sperm DNA, Hormonal Parameters, and Dnah Gene Expression in Cadmium Chloride-Exposed Rats

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Jabir Ibn Hayyan University of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

2 Faculty of Medicine , Jabir ibn Hayyan University for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

3 Department of Restorative and Esthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq

4 The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq.

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a worldwide health problem that affects about 15-20% of couples globally; that is, various factors contribute to infertility, including physiological, genetic, hormonal, and different environmental pollutions. Cadmium chloride, a heavy metal pollutant, since it has an adverse impact on the reproductive system, while curcumin is recognized for its protective antioxidant properties.
Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the protective effect of curcumin on sperm DNA integrity, hormonal parameters, and Dnah1 gene expression against the adverse effect of Cadmium chloride that exposed the male rats.
Methods In total forty adult male Wistar rats was divided into four equal groups including: control (C), curcumin (CU), cadmium chloride (CD), and treatment (T) groups. The curcumin. cadmium chloride and treatment group received curcumin via intraperitoneal injection. At the end of the experiment, samples of the epididymis, blood, and tests were collected to evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation, testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and Dnah1 gene expression.
Results: Cadmium chloride significantly reduced testosterone levels from 0.1735 ± 0.0082 ng/mL to 0.0986 ± 0.0028 ng/mL, increased LH from 0.3907 ± 0.0101 ng/mL to 0.5389 ± 0.0384 ng/mL, and raised sperm DNA fragmentation from 5.63 ± 0.34% to 20.66 ± 0.58%, while Dnah1 gene expression dropped from 1.00 ± 0.037 to 0.012 ± 0.021. Curcumin restored testosterone (0.1646 ± 0.0076 ng/mL), reduced sperm DNA fragmentation (3.93 ± 0.44%), and increased Dnah1 expression (2.69 ± 0.061).
Conclusions: The curcumin showed protective effects against the adverse and harmful role of Cadmium chloride that induced reproductive disorder and infertility by improving sperm DNA integrity, maintaining hormonal balance, and regulating gene expression.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 May 2025

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