The effect of acrylamide on mitochondrial membrane potential and glutathione extraction in human spermatozoa: A laboratory study

Abstract

Background: Acrylamide (AA) is a compound used in the industrial production of polyacrylamide. AAs affects by creating oxidative stress. It produces reactive oxygen species and leads to lipid peroxide. Lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane is one of the most important oxidations in the sperm, which can disrupt the fluidity and permeability of cell membranes and damage all cells.

Objective: To investigate the different concentrations of AA on human sperm parameters based on the World Health Organization standard and its impact on mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm glutathione levels.

Materials and methods: In this laboratory study, we examined the different concentrations of AA on human sperm parameters based on the World Health Organization standard and its impact on mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry and sperm glutathione levels by ELISA assay.

Results: The results were reported as the mean fluorescence intensity of JC and the index was observed to decrease following the effect of AA in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ $\Psi$ m). The results of ELISA test to study the level of intracellular glutathione showed that with the increase in the concentration of AA exposed to sperms, there was a significant reduction in the level of intracellular glutathione.

Conclusion: AA destroys the sperm membrane integrity under apoptotic and oxidative inductions with a negative impact on mitochondrial function and antioxidative enzyme in sperm such as glutathione.

Keywords: Glutathione S-Transferase.; Mitochondrial membrane potential; Acrylamides; Spermatozoa.

Figure 1

Comparison of progressive sperm motility percentage in groups treated with acrylamide compared to the control group (A). Comparison of total sperm motility percentage in groups treated with acrylamide compared to control group (B). Sperm viability percentage in groups treated with acrylamide compared to control group (C). Comparison of immotile sperm motility percentage in groups treated with acrylamide compared to control group (D). ${}^{*}$p $<$ 0. 05; ${}^{**}$p $<$ 0. 01; ${}^{***}$p $<$ 0.001; CI $>$ 95%.

Figure 2

Comparison of the fluorescence intensity in (a) control group; (b, c, d) groups receiving acrylamide at a doses 0.5, 1, and 2 µM, respectively.

Figure 3

Comparison of the evaluation of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ $\Psi$m) in groups treated with acrylamide compared to control group (A). Comparison of glutathione extraction in groups treated with acrylamide compared to control group (B). ${}^{*}$p $<$ 0. 05; ${}^{**}$p $<$ 0. 01; ${}^{***}$p $<$ 0.001; CI $>$ 95%).