Effects of Zinc and Selenium Coadministration on Semen Parameters and Hormonal Profiles of Male Wistar Rats.

Zinc (Zn) and Selenium (Se) are essential dietary micronutrients or trace elements not produced by the body but required in small amounts for the maintenance of mammalian and human male fertility. The over supplementation of individual and combination of micronutrients in the sick and healthy populations could be the leading cause of prevalence of male factor infertility in the world. This study was designed to evaluate the possible effects of the graded independent doses of oral supplementation of Zn, Se and their co-administration on male reproductive hormones, sperm parameters and histological architecture of male wistar rats. Fifty (n=50) adult male wistar rats weighing between 150g-250g and randomly grouped into ten groups of five rats each were used for this research that lasted for six weeks. Group I, the control group, received normal rat chow and water ad libitum. The nine test groups (II-X), received graded doses of zinc sulphate ZnSO4 (II-IV: 50mg/kg,150mg/kg,300mg/kg), selenium dioxide SnO2 (V-VII; 100mg/kg,200mg/kg,400mg/kg), co-administration of ZnSO4 and SnO2 (VIII-X:50mg/kg ZnSO4+100mg/kg SeO2, 150mg/kg ZnS04+200mg/kg SeO2, 300mg/kg ZnSO4+400mg/kg SnO2). Serum testosterone (T), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) was estimated using ELISA Hormone Test kits radio-immuno-assay technique. Semen parameters was analyzed for sperm count, motility, and morphology using the grading system as described by WHO (1999). Testicular histological architecture was established using animal tissue processing technique. Data obtained were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) from SPSS version 22. Statistical significance was placed at P<0.05 and data expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).Results obtained from the study showed significant increase in testosterone levels in all the Zn test groups compared to the control and significant decrease in the levels of FSH and LH in higher doses of Zn and Se supplements when compared to the control at p<0.05. There was significant reduction in sperm motility, count but increase sluggishness in Zn and co-administration of Zn and Se of all the test groups compared to the control. Photomicrograph of the testes showed tissue inflammation, germinal cells destruction and azospermia. This study showed that chronic single or combined over supplementation of the micronutrients zinc and selenium could cause male factor infertility in wistar rats.