ارزیابی اثر محافظتی کروسین بر آسیب DNA اسپرم و لقاح داخل آزمایشگاهی موش های نر بالغ تحت درمان با سیکلوفسفامید

Background and purpose: Oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide (CP), a chemotherapeutic agent, causes vulnerability of sperm and declining the fertility power. Then in this study the effect of crocin (saffron extract) on amelioration of these side effects was investigated. Materials and methods: In this study 24 adult male mice were divided in three groups (n=8). Control group received normal saline (0.2 ml/day, IP), CP group received cyclophosphamide (15 mg/kg/week, IP), and CP+Cr group received crocin (200 mg/kg/day, IP) along with CP for 35 days. Then the animals were euthanized and malondialdehyde (MDA) in testis was assayed. After collection of sperm from caudate of epididymis, the rate of DNA damage was calculated by acridine orange staining. After stimulation of ovulation in 72 female adult mice, oocytes were collected and transferred in HTF medium that contained BSA. Then, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) was done with capacitated sperms. The rate of fertilization and primitive embryonic growth were evaluated for 120 hours. Results: The results showed increase in fertilization, two cell embryos and blastocysts in CP+Cr group compared to those of the CP group (P<0.05). Also, the crocin in CP+Cr group prevented the increase of total number of arrested embryos and percentage of arrested embryos type I, II, and III (P<0.05). Decrease in MDA assay and sperms with damaged DNA were observed more in CP+Cr group (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed the efficiency of crocin in amelioration of fertility and growth of primitive embryo in animals that received CP.