Prophylactic and Curative Effect of Selenium on Infertility Induced by Formaldehyde Using Male Albino Mice

Abstract

Infertility is a source of psychological, and sometimes social, stress on parents who desire to have children. Formaldehyde
is used chiefly as disinfectant, preservative and in chemical synthesis. The medical uses of formaldehyde are limited, but
focused especially on laboratory use. Selenium is an essential trace mineral element for human; it is essential for sperm
function and male fertility. Selenium deficiency has been linked to reproductive problems in animals.
The main objectives of this study is to investigate the prophylactic and curative effect of selenium on male infertility
induced by formaldehyde using male albino mice.
Forty male albino mice were used, weight 25-30gm divided into five groups of mice (n=8). Group 1 was daily administered
(i.p.) water for injection (5ml/kg) for five days, group 2 was daily administered selenium (100 μg/kg) for five days,
group 3 was daily administered formaldehyde (30 mg/kg) for five days, group 4 (prophylaxis) was daily administered a
combination of formaldehyde and selenium for five days, while group 5 (curative) was daily administered formaldehyde
for five days followed by daily administration of selenium for the next five days. At the end of administration, seminal
fluid was collected from vas deferens. Sperm count, morphology and motility were scored; Histopathological screening
of genital system was carried out. SPSS software was applied for comparing groups.
It was found that formaldehyde toxicity did not change the sperm count and percentage of motile sperm. Formaldehyde
produces degeneration/damage to the male mice testis and sperm parameters. Selenium alone resulted in an increase in
sperm count, volume of seminal fluid and the percentage of motile sperm. Selenium has prophylactic and curative effects
against formaldehyde-induce testis and sperm parameters toxicity. Future work is recommended to find out if selenium
protective effect is through antioxidant or other mechanisms.