Effect of silymarin on DNA and nuclear integrity of ram sperm Treated with sodium arsenite

Aim: This study was performed to investigate if silymarin can prevent the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on ram sperm DNA and nuclear integrity.
Material and Epididymal sperm obtained from Farahani’s ram (Ovis aries) was swim up and divided into five groups: 1. Sperm at 0 hour, 2. sperm at 180 minutes (control), 3. sperm treated with sodium arsenite (10μM) for 180 minutes, 4. sperm treated with silymarin (20 μM) sodium arsenite (10 μM) for 180 minutes and 5. sperm treated with silymarin (20 μM) for 180 minutes. Ram´s sperm DNA integrity was assessed by SCD (Sperm Chromatine Dispersion) test to study DNA fragmentation and Acridine orange staining was used to estimate DNA denaturation (double-strand DNA versus single-strand DNA). To evaluate sperm nuclear integrity, Diff-quick staining was used and sperm nuclear diameter was measured.
DNA fragmentation percent and nuclear diameter of the spermatozoa were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in sodium arsenite group compared to the control samples. While this toxicant had no effect on sperm DNA denaturation. In silymarin sodium arsenite group, silymarin was able to significantly ameliorate the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on these sperm parameters compared to sodium arsenite group.
Silymarin as a potent antioxidant could compensate the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on DNA fragmentation and nuclear diameter of ram sperm.