Effect of nickel chloride on reproductive parameters and testicular oxidative stress biomarkers in male guinea pigs

The soil and agricultural products pollution by nickel represents an important public health risk in agrarian areas such as the Dschang in Cameroon. This study was designed to evaluate the reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress potential of nickel chloride in male guinea pig. Four groups of adult male guinea pigs were orally treated with nickel chloride at doses of 0, 17.50, 26.25 and 52.50 mg/kg bw for 90 days. At the end of the experimental period, all animals were sacrificed, and blood samples and vital organs were collected for different analysis. Treatment of male guinea pigs with 52.50 mg/kg nickel chloride resulted in increased kidney weight and volume and decreased weights of the sex accessory glands (seminal vesicle + prostate + coagulating glands), epididymis and vas deferens. The 52.50 mg/kg dose of nickel chloride decreased (p<0.05) the animal’s sperm mobility, number and viability, while it increased (p<0.05) sperm micro and macrocephalies. Assessment of biochemical parameters of toxicity revealed increase (p<0.05) of serum creatinine and aminotransferases activities in the nickel chloride-exposed guinea pigs (52.50 mg/kg). The nickel chloride (52.50 mg/kg) also promoted oxidative stress, through decrease (p<0.05) of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, as well as increase (p<0.05) in lipid peroxydation. In addition, histology of testis revealed disrupted germ cell arrangement, decreased concentration of sperms in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and degraded germinal epithelium in the animals exposed to nickel chloride. In conclusion, results obtained in this study revealed that nickel chloride perturbs male reproductive system and induced oxidative stress.