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Changes in Organ Weight, Sperm Quality and Testosterone Levels After Aluminum (Al) and Indium (In) Administration to Wistar Rats

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Abstract

Background

Aluminum and indium are widely used in industrial manufacturing, in pharmaceutical products, in medical treatments, and in food packaging, so they could reach organisms by different way. In order to clarify whether these elements are dangerous, we already demonstrated the ultrastructural modifications observed in the testicles, the epididymides, and the seminal vesicles of rat. Their pro-oxidative effect was also confirmed concomitantly to a decrease in anti-oxidant defenses in the blood, the testicles, and the liver. Thus, it seemed very logic to evaluate damages in the reproductive organs, especially on the exocrine and endocrine functions of the testicles.

Methods

Aluminum and indium were intraperitoneally administered to male Wistar rats. Sperm solution was obtained from cauda epididymides. Motility, viability, density, and malformation of spermatozoa solution were assessed. Serum total unconjugated testosterone concentrations were measured using RIA technique.

Results

Our results showed a decrease in weight of the testicles, epididymides, and seminal vesicles of indium-treated rats and an increase in the weight of their kidneys. A decrease in motility, viability, and density of epididymides stored sperm as well as generation of many spermatozoa malformations was also observed especially in indium-treated rats. Testosterone levels were increased in indium but were enhanced in aluminum group. This confirmed our previous studies showing that aluminum and indium are toxic for the testicular tissues. This could be explained by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) affecting strongly the exocrine and the endocrine functions of the testicles.

Conclusion

Aluminum and indium are disturbing elements for the exocrine and endocrine functions of rat testicles.

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Data Availability

All data related to the subject of this study is reported and archived in the Laboratory of Physiology in the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis (Tunisia).

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Acknowledgements

* Special thanks to Madam Boussaidi Samiha, technique agent of the Laboratory of Medical Bacteriology of the Pasteur Institute of Tunis (Tunisia) for her precious help in the learning of the techniques of determination of fertility parameters: motility, viability assessment, and density sperm.

* Big thanks are addressed to Professor Ben Rayana Mohamed Chiheb, chief of the Medical Biology Laboratory of the Nutrition Institute of Tunis (Tunisia), for allowing us using the gamma counter for total unconjugated testosterone level measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis (University of Tunis El Manar), 15, Djebel Lakhdar Street, La Rabta, 1007, Tunis, Tunisia

    Samira Maghraoui & Leila Tekaya

  2. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 L. Pasteur St, 400349, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Adrian Florea & Horea Matei

  3. Research Unit: Valorization of Active Molecules, Higher Institute of Applied Biology Medenine (University of Gabes), El Jorf Road - Km 22.5-4119, Medenine, Tunisia

    Ahlem Ayadi

  4. Laboratory of Complementary Investigations, Institute of Legal Medicine, 3-5 Clinicilor St, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Horea Matei

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  1. Samira Maghraoui
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and experimentation were performed by Dr Maghraoui Samira and Dr Ayadi Ahlem. The SEM imaging and figure interpretation were performed by Dr Florea Adrian. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Dr Maghraoui Samira. Dr Florea Adrian and Pr Matei Horea commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Pr Tekaya Leila supervised the different steps of the work and corrected the manuscript in the different phases of redaction.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samira Maghraoui.

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Ethics Approval

The ethic committee approved the study twice. The first time it was approved by the ethic committee of the Pasteur Institute of Tunis (Tunisia). The second time it was approved by the ethic committee of Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Cluj-Napoca; Romania).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Maghraoui, S., Florea, A., Ayadi, A. et al. Changes in Organ Weight, Sperm Quality and Testosterone Levels After Aluminum (Al) and Indium (In) Administration to Wistar Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 766–775 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03180-z

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