Effect of Selenium and Electrical Stimulation on the Expression of Cation Channel Spermia 1 and 2 Genes in Spinal Cord Injury Rat Model

Cation Channel Spermia (CatSper) 1-4 are considered as a unique family of "sperm cation channels" and play an important role in the motility of the sperm and male fertility. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the effects of selenium (Se) and electrical stimulation (Es) on the expression of CatSper 1 and 2 genes in the spinal cord injury (SCI) rat model.

The present experimental study was performed on 50 male Wistar rats. The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 which experienced SCI using an SCI impactor device. Forty-eight hours after injury, the Se group received Se for 6 consecutive days for 6 weeks, and Es was performed for 1 hour per day for 6 consecutive days during 6 weeks in the Es group. Finally, the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the expression of CatSper 1 and 2 genes, followed by using one-way ANOVA for the analysis of gene expression data. The results were considered statistically significant when P < 0.05.

Se treatment showed an increase in the relative expression of CatSper 1 and 2 genes compared to the control group, but this increase was higher for CatSper 2. Eventually, Es did not affect the relative intensity of CatSper 1 and 2 gene expression after SCI.

Se, more than Es, could increase the relative intensity of CatSper1 and 2 expressions, and this increase was higher in CatSper2