Effect of acrylamide and Pomegranate Juice on Reproductive Efficiency of Adult Rats

The study was conduct to investigate the possible protective effect of pomegranate juice after experimental oral administration of the acrylamide on the serum reproductive hormones levels (Testosterone "T", Luteinizing Hormone "LH" and folliclestimulating Hormone" FSH"), and epididymal sperm concentration, viability and abnormalities as well as fertility in adult male rats. Forty-eight adult male albino rats were divided equally into four groups (12 male rats /group): negative control group (G1), which was given distillated water (3 ml/kg/ body weight "BW"), and the positive control group (G2) given oral pomegranate juice (3 ml/kg/ BW). The others were considered as treated groups, third group (G3) was administered acrylamide (100 mg/kg/day), and fourth group (G4) given acrylamide in the same dose combined with (3 ml/kg/BW) of pomegranate juice daily both for 30 days. All administrations were given by oral gavage. Six male rats from each group were sacrificed perform hormonal tests and sperm count and other 24 males (6 male of each group) were mated with 24 untreated healthy adult female rats in order to evaluate fertility efficacy of males in studied groups. The results showed significant decrease (P≤0.05) in serum T levels, and significant increase (P≤0.05) in LH and FSH levels in G3 group compare to all other groups of study. The results also showed significant decline in epididydmal sperm concentration and viability concurred with significant elevation in sperm abnormality in (G3) group compared to other treated and control groups. Results also revealed that the treatment with pomegranate juice improved the harmful effects of acrylamide on reproductive parameters in male rats toward the normal values.Fertility rate, number of birth and implantation sites were reduced in female rats that were mated with male of G3 group in comparison with females that were mated with males of G1, G2 and G4 groups. From the present study, it has been revealed that the acrylamide adversely affect male reproductive efficacy and caused decline their sperm characters and subsequent fertility. Moreover, Pomegranate Juice had the ability to prevent these changes. Thus, it could have a role in improving male fertility.