Protective Effect of Selenium-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall on In Vitro Fertilization in Adult Male Rats under Chronic Immobilization Stress

Background and Stress is one of the decisive factors in infertility, which can interfere with spermatogenesis and reduce spermatozoa. Considering the immobilization stress-induced infertility disorders, this study aimed at examining the protective effect of selenium yeast cell wall (as an antioxidant) on in vitro fertilizing ability following immobilization stress in adult male rats.
In an experimental study, 32 male adult rats were divided into 4 groups (n= 8 per group) including controls, stress, stress cell wall of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) enriched with selenium (SECW) and a SECW group without inducing stress. To induce stress, the rats were immobilized in restraint device for 42 days 2hrs per day. The SECW (5×108 CFU/ml) �µg/gr SE were orally administrated for 42 days. Afterwards, the sperm samples were collected for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Moreover, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in testicular tissue was assessed in all groups.
Immobilization stress significantly reduced the percentage of zygote, two-cell embryos, blastocyst, hatched embryos and increased MDA levels compared to the control group (P Immobilization stress was proved to have harmful effects on fertility, therefore, SECW that has antioxidant compounds could inhibit oxygen free radicals thereby, increasing fertilization and fertility potential.