Protective Effects of Wheat Germ Oil on the IVF, Oxidative Stress and In Vitro Zygote Development in Carbamazepine Treated Epileptic Male Mice

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder caused by abnormal electrical discharges from the brain. Carbamazepine is used to treat epilepsy. Over time, this drug may increase oxidative stress and reproductive abnormalities in patients with epilepsy. Wheat germ oil has the highest amount of vitamin E, among other vegetable oils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of wheat germ oil as an antioxidant-rich source on oxidative stress and in vitro fertilization in carbamazepine-treated epileptic male mice.

In this experimental study, 40 adult male and 20 adult female Balb/C strain mice with a mean weight of 25-30g were used.  Male animals divided into 4 groups (n=10), including: control; pentylenetetrazole (40 mg/kg/day); pentylenetetrazole (40 mg/kg/day) + carbamazepine (180 mg/kg/day) and pentylenetetrazole (40 mg/kg/day) + carbamazepine (180 mg/kg/day) + wheat germ oil (500 mg/kg/day). All doses were given to the male rats orally for 42 days based on g/kg body weight. Five healthy female mice were used for ovulation in each group. At the end of the treatment period, quantity of catalase enzyme, total antioxidant capacity, fertilization, zygote development, were examined. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in SPSS19 software.

The results of this study showed that administration of wheat germ oil in the carbamazepine-treated group significantly (P <0.05) increased amount of the catalase, total antioxidant capacity, fertilization and zygote development in the laboratory.

Wheat germ oil acts as an antioxidant agent and increases the amount of catalase, total antioxidant capacity and in vitro fertilization by reducing free radicals due to epilepsy and carbamazepine consumption.