Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Export Promotions Industrial Park (EPIP), Industrial Area, Hajipur, Bihar, 844102, India.
Department of Anatomy, Kasturbna Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
J Mol Histol. 2024 Dec;55(6):1131-1145. doi: 10.1007/s10735-024-10255-9. Epub 2024 Sep 13.
Arsenic (As), a significant environmental pollutant that has garnered global attention, is widely recognized for its adverse effects on reproductive health. This study assesses the aphrodisiac activity of Dehydrozingerone (DHZ) against As induced sexual dysfunction in male Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into control, As, and As+DHZ groups. The As group received 5 mg/kg sodium arsenite (NaAsO) orally while As+DHZ group received 50 mg/kg synthesized DHZ along with As for 42 days. Following administration, mount and intromission latency, frequency, and average time were measured to assess aphrodisiac and reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats which had 1:1 coitus with female rats. On days 14th, 28th, and 42nd, sexual behaviour was measured. Further on 43rd day, animals were sacrificed, blood was collected to measure oxidative parameters and LH hormone, and then testes were collected to profile reproductive damage. As treated rats had lower sperm counts, motility, and abnormalities. These alterations reduced sexual hormones. In addition, As toxicity depleted antioxidant indicators including SOD, GSH and elevated ROS. Compared to the As group, As+DHZ showed a substantial (p < 0.05) increase in sperm count, motility, and reduced abnormalities. DHZ also reversed the rise in luteinizing hormone caused by As therapy, restored oxidative indicators, and improved seminiferous tubule structural damage. 42 days As exposure slightly increased rats' sexual desire but not sperm quality. However, As+DHZ lower libido and sperm quality. Thus, DHZ therapy enhanced rat sexual desire and sperm quality compared to As.
砷（As）是一种重要的环境污染物，已引起全球关注，其对生殖健康的不良影响已得到广泛认可。本研究评估了脱氢荆酮（DHZ）对雄性 Wistar 大鼠砷诱导的性功能障碍的壮阳活性。雄性 Wistar 大鼠分为对照组、As 组和 As+DHZ 组。As 组经口给予 5mg/kg 亚砷酸钠（NaAsO），As+DHZ 组同时给予 50mg/kg 合成的 DHZ 和 As，共 42 天。给药后，通过与雌性大鼠 1:1 交配来测量雄性 Wistar 大鼠的勃起和插入潜伏期、频率和平均时间，以评估壮阳和生殖毒性。在第 14、28 和 42 天测量性行为。第 43 天，处死动物，采集血液测量氧化参数和 LH 激素，然后采集睾丸以评估生殖损伤。As 处理的大鼠精子计数、活力和畸形率较低。这些变化降低了性激素。此外，As 毒性耗尽了抗氧化指标，包括 SOD、GSH 和升高的 ROS。与 As 组相比，As+DHZ 组的精子计数、活力显著增加（p<0.05），畸形率降低。DHZ 还逆转了 As 治疗引起的黄体生成素升高，恢复了氧化指标，并改善了曲细精管结构损伤。42 天的 As 暴露轻度增加了大鼠的性欲，但不影响精子质量。然而，As+DHZ 降低了性欲和精子质量。因此，与 As 相比，DHZ 治疗增强了大鼠的性欲和精子质量。
