Complementary effects of coenzyme Q10 and Lepidium sativum supplementation on the reproductive function of mice: An experimental study

Abstract

Background: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Lepidium sativum (LS) have therapeutic effects on infertility.

Objective: To evaluate the combined effects of LS and CoQ10 on reproductive function in adult male NMRI mice.

Materials and methods: Eighty three-months-old male mice (35-40 gr) were divided into four groups (n = 10/each): control (treated with water), CoQ10-treated (200, 300, and 400 mg/kg/body weight), LS-treated (200, 400, 600 mg/kg/body weight), and co-treated (LS [600 mg/kg/body weight] + CoQ10 [200 mg/kg/body weight]) groups. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and gonadotropin realizing hormone (GnRH) levels were measured using ELISA method. The sperm quality was assessed using Sperm Class AnalyzerⓇ (SCA) CASA system and GnRH mRNA expression levels were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The number of sniffing and following behavior was significantly higher in LS-treated (400 and 600 mg/ml/body weight) groups than the control group (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.0010, respectively). The number of mounting and coupling behaviors was significantly higher in the CoQ10 (300 and 400 mg/ml/body weight)-treated animals than the control group (p = 0.0170 and p = 0.0006, respectively). Co-treatment of CoQ10 (200 mg/ml/body weight) and LS (600 mg/ml/body weight) significantly increased all aspects of sexual behaviors as well as the levels of serum testosterone (p = 0.0011), luteinizing hormone (p = 0.0062), and follicle-stimulating hormone (p = 0.0001); sperm viability (p = 0.0300) and motility (p = 0.0010); and GnRH mRNA levels (p = 0.0016) compared to the control group.

Conclusion: The coadministration of CoQ10 and LS significantly improves the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and enhances the reproductive parameters in adult male mice.

Keywords: Infertility; Male reproductive function.; Coenzyme Q10; Lepidium sativum.

Figure 1

The effects of LS on sniffing (A), following (B), mounting (C), and coupling (D) number in LS-treated and control groups. *p $<$ 0.05, **p $<$ 0.01, and ***p $<$ 0.05, Significant difference compared with the control group.

Figure 2

The effects of CoQ10 on sniffing (A), following (B), mounting (C), and coupling (D) number in CoQ10-treated and control groups. *p $<$ 0.05 and **p $<$ 0.01, Significant difference compared with the control group.

Figure 3

The effects of co-treatment of CoQ10 (200 mg/kg/body weight) and LS (600 mg/kg/body weight) on sniffing (A), following (B), mounting (C), and coupling (D) number in CoQ10 + LS-treated and control groups. *p $<$ 0.05, **p $<$ 0.01, and ***p $<$ 0.05, Significant difference compared with the control group.

Figure 4

Co-treatment effect of CoQ10 (200 mg/kg/body weight) and LS (600 mg/kg/body weight) on the serum levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH. *p $<$ 0.05, **p $<$ 0.01, and ***p $<$ 0.05, Significant difference compared with the control group.

Figure 5

Co-treatment effect of CoQ10 (200 mg/kg/body weight) and LS (600 mg/kg/body weight) on the GnRH gene expression level compared with the control group. **p $<$ 0.01, Significant difference compared with the control group.