Evaluation of sperm quality in phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia impacts on mice and protective role of crocin

Hemolytic anemia and its produced hypoxia can cause a dysfunction in the testis and spermatogenesis. Iron delivered from hemolysis of erythrocytes can also stimulate oxidative stress. In this study, the aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of crocin on sperm quality in animals that were exposed against hemolytic anemia induced by phenylhydrazine. Forty nine male and adult mice (20-25g) were grouped within 7 groups. First group was control and treated with normal saline, and test groups were nominated as 2, 3, and 4 and were treated with phenylhydrazine 2, 4, and 6 mg/100g/48 h (i.p.). Animals in groups 5, 6, and 7 were treated with crocin (200 mg/k/day, i.p.) in addition of 2, 4, and 6 mg/100g/48 h phenylhydrazine IP. After 35 days, semen samples were collected from tail of epididymis and the sperm quality parameters including sperm total count, motility, viability, nuclear maturity, and DNA damage were examined. Results showed that phenylhydrazine – induced hemolytic anemia resulted in a remarkable reduction in sperm total count, motility, percentage of viability, percentage of sperm with intact DNA and increased the number of immature sperms, while those groups which were treated with crocin showed significant (P<0.05) improvement in sperm quality parameters. The results may suggest a protective effect of crocin against the phenilhydrazine-induced anemia, which attribute to its antioxidant effects.