P-199: Effect of Oxidative Stress on Sperm Quality and Mmu-miR-34a Expression in Testis of Mature Mouse

Background: Male infertility is responsible for approximately 50% of infertility in the world. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the causative agents of infertility in males which effects on sperm quality and function. In this study, the effects of oxidative stress induced by tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) were investigated on sperm quality, testis tissue and miRNAs expression. Materials and Methods: Adult male mice (9-10 weeks) strain Balb/c was randomly selected from mouse colony. After a primary study to determine LD50, TBHP was injected at the concentration of 1:10 LD50 for 2 weeks. The mice were sacrificed and their testis tissues were used for cell viability, ROS assay and miRNAs expression. Epididymis was also surveyed for sperm analysis by CASA system. Results: The sperm motility, count and viability were decreased in the TBHP treated mice in comparison of the control mice. The flowcytometry analysis showed a significant increase in H2O2 and O2•- levels in both testis and sperm 2 weeks after intra-peritoneal (ip) injection. Body weights revealed no treatment-related effects but atrophy of testis and decrease of testis cells viability was observed. Also, the expression of mmu-miR-34a in the experimental group decreased. Conclusion: TBHP-induced oxidative stress caused to decrease in sperm vitality and motility and testis cells viability. Results indicated that oxidative stress induction in testis reduced its normal function. That is due to an increased level of H2O2 and O2•- in testis and their deleterious effects on genomic levels.