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Effect of dietary selenium deficiency on the in vitro fertilizing ability of mice spermatozoa

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Abstract

Selenium is an essential micronutrient for mammals, being integral part of antioxidant system. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of selenium deficiency on in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity of spermatozoa and on oxidative stress in these cells. Male C57BL/6N mice were maintained on selenium-deficient or selenium-sufficient diets (0.02 or 0.2 ppm of selenium as selenomethionine, respectively) for 4 months. Liver glutathione peroxidase activity measurements were used to confirm selenium deficiency. Sperm quality and IVF capability among both groups were evaluated. To assess oxidative damage, lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde production was determined in spermatozoa as well as the testes. Ultrastructural analyses of spermatozoa nuclei using transmission electron microscopy were also performed. The percentage of eggs fertilized with sperm from selenium-deficient mice was significantly decreased by approximately 67%. This reduced fertilization capacity was accompanied by increased levels of lipid peroxidation in both the testes and sperm, indicating that selenium deficiency induced oxidative stress. Consistent with this finding, spermatozoa from selenium-deficient animals exhibited altered chromatin condensation. Deficiency in dietary selenium decreases the reproductive potential of male mice and is associated with oxidative damage in spermatozoa.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Rodolfo Paredes-Díaz from Electronic Microscopic Unit of Cellular Physiology of UNAM, México for helping with electron microscopic analysis. The authors also thank Belem Piña-Guzmán and Angel Barrera-Hernández from Cinvestav, México for their assistance in the assessment of sperm parameters and care of animals, respectively. EAGM and JAIV were recipients of a Conacyt-México scholarship number 163334 and 170210, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área Académica de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hidalgo, 42000, México

    M. Sánchez-Gutiérrez

  2. Sección Externa de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Col. Zacatenco, México, DF, 07360, México

    E. A. García-Montalvo, J. A. Izquierdo-Vega & L. M. Del Razo

  3. FES-Cuautitlán. UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Estado de México, México

    J. A. Izquierdo-Vega

Authors
  1. M. Sánchez-Gutiérrez
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  2. E. A. García-Montalvo
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  3. J. A. Izquierdo-Vega
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  4. L. M. Del Razo
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Correspondence to L. M. Del Razo.

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Sánchez-Gutiérrez, M., García-Montalvo, E.A., Izquierdo-Vega, J.A. et al. Effect of dietary selenium deficiency on the in vitro fertilizing ability of mice spermatozoa. Cell Biol Toxicol 24, 321–329 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-007-9044-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10565-007-9044-8

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