Background & Aims: Ethanol has overall toxic effects on male fertility which directly or indirectly disturbs spermatogenesis. Zinc as an antioxidant agent, reduces ethanol-induced toxic effects on somatic (non-sexual) cells. However, the underling mechanism of effects of ethanol and zink on fertility potential especially on testis somatic cells is poorly understood. Accordingly, in the present study was aimed to investigate the effects of single and co-administration of ethanol and zinc on viability and morphology of cultured sertoli cells.

Materials & Methods: The mouse sertoli cells were cultured and investigated in four main groups including: ethanol (160mM), zinc (8µM), pretreatment and control, in which cells were exposed to treatment containing medium for 24 or 48 hours. In pretreatment group, cells were incubated with zinc before ethanol exposure and in control group cells were only incubated with free medium without any further treatment. The cellular viability was then assessed using MTT method and morphological alterations were investigated with invert microscope.

Results: There was a significant decrease in cell viability and some morphological alterations in ethanol group compared to other groups. Cell viability increased in zinc group compared to other groups even in the control group. In pretreatment group cell viability significantly decreased in comparison to zinc group but increased compared to ethanol group. 

Conclusion: Zinc reduces ethanol-induced effects in decreasing cell viability. Zinc may prevent spontaneously- or pathologically-induced apoptosis in germ cells suggesting a probable clinical importance and therapeutic effects of zinc on alcoholism and male infertility.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2015: 25(12): 1091 ISSN: 1027-3727