Tocopherol Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Increases Androgen Receptors in Mice Testicular Tissues under Forced Swimming in Warm Water

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tocopherol supplementation and swimming in warm water on the spermatogenesis, expression of androgen receptors (ARs), and oxidative stress markers in mouse testis. Adult male mice were divided into seven groups: (A) control, (B) solvent, (C) vitamin E (VE), (D) swimming at 23°C water, (E) swimming at 23°C water and receiving VE, (F) swimming at 35°C water, and (G) swimming at 35°C water and receiving VE. Hormones were measured using ELISA. Spermatogenesis was examined through histopathology. The ARs were studied by immunohistochemistry. The testis oxidative stress markers were assessed using colorimetric assays. The distribution of VE in testis tissue was also evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Swimming of mice at 23°C was safe for sperm development. Swimming at 35°C resulted in lower testosterone, LH, sperm parameters, sperm differentiation, AR expression, SOD activity, and increased MDA in the testis, compared to control (P  < 0.05). The abovementioned parameters were significantly altered by VE, in comparison to the animals that swam in warm water at 35°C (P  < 0.05). The results of HPLC showed that tissue distribution of VE was significantly higher in group G, compared to group E (P  < 0.05). Swimming in water at 23°C is conducive to sperm development, whereas swimming at 35°C impairs sperm production. In conclusion, VE counteracts the negative effects of swimming at 35°C water on sperm development by altering the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, distribution of VE, AR expression, and lipid peroxidation in testicular tissue.