The Effect of Ethephon Investigation on Sperm Parameters and in Vitro Fertilizing Potential in Adult Male Mice

Ethephon is one of the most important organophosphorus pesticides that has an adverse effect on the reproductive system and can impair the semen quality and decline the fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethephon on sperm parameters, characteristics and in vitro fertilizing potential in male mice.

In this experimental study, 90 adult male mice were divided into 6 control and experimental groups. The experimental groups received ethephon at low, medium and high doses and the positive control group received neostigmine bromide (0.1 mg/kg). After treatment, animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation and sperm samples were collected from cauda epididymis to evaluate sperm parameters and in vitro fertilization. The level of p<0.05 was considered significant.

A decrease in sperm motility and viability was observed between the experimental groups compared to the control group. Nonetheless, ethephon can remarkably increase DNA damage and lack of nuclear maturation. In vitro fertilization results showed that ethephon significantly reduced embryonic quality and stages of embryological development compared to the control group. Also, the percentage of arrested embryos in the experimental groups was significantly enhanced compared to the control group (p<0.05).

The present results showed that oxidative stress induced by ethephon causes damage to sperm DNA and subsequently decreases the quality of sperm and in vitro fertilizing potential in a dose dependent manner.