Chemo-protective Effects of Ascorbic acid on Fluoxetine-induced Spermatotoxicity in Male Wistar Rats
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Date
2023-05
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Kampala International University; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
Depression has become a common mental disorder worldwide, affecting more than 280 million people of all ages, and it has been noted to be one of the leading causes of disability and suicide, and it is one of the major contributors to the global burden of diseases. Fluoxetine (FLX) is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), and it is a common medicine used as a first-line treatment of depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. It is capable of causing infertility in the male reproductive system through the release of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is a natural exogeneous antioxidant which has been used for centuries to treat and prevent diseases. It has been shown to improve proliferation, apoptosis of tumour cells, and reproductive functions. Over 280 million people of all ages worldwide suffer one form of depression or the other, therefore, is a proportionate increase in the use of antidepressants. Due to the use of Fluoxetine in the management of depression among male adults, spermatotoxicity is induced by the release of reactive oxygen species. The protective effects of Ascorbic acid against sperm toxicity was studied on sperm fertility indexes, relative testicular weight, and histological changes of the testes in adult male wistar rats treated with Fluoxetine, and the aim of this study was to shed more light on how male fertility can be improved, especially among fluoxetine users.
Adult male wistar rats were divided into 6 groups: Group 1 Control (received distilled water), Group 2 (treated with Fluoxetine 20mg/kg), Group 3 (treated with Vitamin C 100mg/kg), Group 4 (treated with Fluoxetine 20mg/kg + Vitamin C 50mg/kg), Group 5 (treated with Fluoxetine 20mg/kg + Vitamin C 100mg/kg), Group 6 (treated with Fluoxetine 20mg/kg + Vitamin C 150mg/kg). Animals were treated by oral gavage once daily for 60 days. The testicular tissue was assayed for oxidative stress parameters, sperm functions, hormone, relative organ weight, and histological changes. The results showed that treatment with Fluoxetine generally had a detrimental effect on fertility parameters, and a combined treatment of Fluoxetine with Vitamin C showed improvement. Vitamin C ameliorated alterations in parameters measuring oxidative stress changes, sex hormone, sperm functions, relative organ weight, and histological changes. From our study, we conclude that protection against Fluoxetine-induced alterations by Vitamin C in reproductive parameters was partly due to its antioxidant effect. It is recommended that markers of oxidative stress should constantly be evaluated in humans that are on Fluoxetine therapy, and they should be given Ascorbic acid alongside to counteract the toxic effects caused by the administration of Fluoxetine. It is also recommended that the study be carried out in females to ascertain the level of Fluoxetine toxicity and possible chemo-protective effects of Ascorbic acid.