Total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide values in seminal plasma of Balb/c male rats treated with different concentrations of silver nanoparticle

According to the harmful effects of silver nanoparticles induced by free radicals production, it is assumed that it can lead to reduced level of seminal total antioxidant capacity and then poor sperm quality. In this research, we aimed to investigate the toxic effects of silver nanoparticles on sperm parameters quality as well as total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide (NO) in seminal plasma of male rats. In this experimental research, 24 male rats (Balb/c) were randomly divided into four groups including: controls (n=6), treatment group A (n=6), treatment group B (n=6) and treatment group C (n=6). Commercial silver nanoparticle was injected orally in a single dose (A=0.007μg, B=0.14μg and C=0.28μg per day) for 4 consecutive weeks. After that seminal total antioxidant capacity and NO values were measured using Ferric reducing antioxidant of power (FRAP) and microscopic techniques, respectively. Sperm parameters quality was considered by microscopic methods. There was a significant reduction in sperm parameters quality in treatment groups, especially in group C and group B, when compared with controls (p