Effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) extract on sperm health parameters in adult rats treated with Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) disturbs male reproductive system performance via the production of free radicals. Green tea extract (GTE) is known as a potent antioxidant.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of co-treatment of BPA and GTE as an antioxidant on male reproductive system performance.

Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups: control, Bisphenol A (20 µg/kg/day), GTE (100 mg/kg/day) and Bisphenol A + GTE, treated for 8 weeks. The body weight and left testis weight were recorded. Left caudal epididymis was separated and kept in Ham's F10. Released sperms were used for analyzing the number, motility, viability and abnormalities of the sperm. The quality of sperm chromatin was assessed by nuclear staining acridine orange and aniline blue. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey‘s test. The means were considered significant at P < 0.05.

A significant reduction in the number, motility and viability of sperm were seen in BPA group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). BPA didn’t have any effect on sperm DNA integrity and histon-protamine replacement (P > 0.05). Also a considerable increase in sperm viability and motility was seen in the GTE group compared to the control.

The results of this investigation showed that GTE could compensate the adverse effects of BPA on sperm parameters in adult rats.