Ameliorative Effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine and Zinc Sulfate on Reproductive Dysfunction Induced by Short-Term Crude Oil Exposure in Male Wistar Rats
Tarela Melish Elias Daubry
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
Olaghaguo Macstephen Adienbo
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Blessing Zeinab Ovili-Odili
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
Bruno Chukwuemeka Chinko *
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Crude oil contamination by accidental or voluntary ingestion is prevalent in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. One of the possible impacts of crude oil contamination is reproductive toxicity leading to infertility. The present study evaluated the potential protective effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) and Zinc Sulfate (ZnSO4) in mitigating reproductive dysfunction caused by short-term Bonny Light Crude oil (BLCO) exposure in male Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: Fifty (50) male Wistar (180 – 200g) were used for the study. They were divided into ten (10) groups of five (5) animals each. Groups I and II served as the control and negative control and received distilled water and BLCO (600mg/kg) respectively while groups III to X served as the experimental groups and received NAC (100 and 200mg/kg) and ZnSO4 (0.5mg/kg and 1mg/kg) orally for three (3) weeks. Animals were euthanized, and blood and semen were collected for biochemical and seminal analysis.
Results: The results of this current study show that BLCO exposure caused a disruption in reproductive functions in rats by decreasing reproductive hormones and semen quality parameters in Wistar rats. NAC and ZnSO4 administration significantly improved semen quality parameters by improving sperm count, sperm motility and morphology in experimental rats.
Conclusion: Evidence from the present study suggests that NAC and ZnSO4 protected the testes, preventing reproductive alterations linked to BLCO exposure.
Keywords: Crude Oil, bonny crude light oil, N-Acetyl cysteine, zinc sulphate, reproductive dysfunction