Improvement of Sperm Evaluation Parameters Following Ghrelin Treatment in Cadmium-Induced Testicular Injury in Rats

Cadmium، as an environmental and industrial pollutant، due to its in-vivo accumulation in tissues and especially in the testis results in extensive degenerative changes. The aim of this study was to determine the possible protective effects of ghrelin against cadmium and on sperm quality parameters in rats. Thirty adult male rats were allocated into three equal groups، control-saline، cadmium-saline and cadmium-ghrelin. Induction of testicular injury was achieved by a single injection of 2 mg/kg cadmium chloride intraperotoneally; 10 nmol of ghrelin was given 1 day before cadmium injection and continued for 10 consecutive days. Five rats from each group were sacrificed on the days 5 and 10 after cadmium toxicity and sperm was taken from the epididymal tail for the evaluation. Testicular weight and sperm concentration significantly decreased by cadmium toxicity (P < 0. 05). Likewise، the percentages of sperm progressive motility on the day 10 and membrane integrity on both days significantly decreased in cadmium group (P < 0. 05 for all). Whereas، ghrelin treatment enhanced hypo-osmotic swelling test (positive cells) on the days 5 and 10 compared to the cadmium-saline group (P < 0. 05). However، it failed to increase progressive motility، sperm concentration or testicular weight significantly. Ghrelin، due to its possible antioxidant properties، caused an increase in sperm membrane integrity that can be prerequisite for progressive movement. Ghrelin could be implicated for attenuation of cadmium effects on sperm quality.