Therapeutic effects of erythropoietin-alginate/chitosan hydrogel on impaired male rat fertility after spinal cord injury.

Background: Infertility is a significant issue in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Men with SCI often experience erectile and ejaculatory dysfunctions, and low sperm quality leading to impaired fertility. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of Erythropoietin (EPO)alginate/chitosan (CH-AL) hydrogel on SCI-induced male rat infertility.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Sham, SCI-induced group without any further intervention (Negative control, NC), and a treatment group receiving 10,000 IU/kg EPO-CH/AL hydrogel (EPO group), immediately following SCI induction. Sperm parameters, oxidative stress markers, apoptosis, and histopathological changes in animal testes were analyzed.

Results: Sperm viability and motility significantly decreased in the NC group compared to the sham group (p < 0.01). Treatment with 10,000 IU/kg EPO-CH/AL hydrogel significantly improved sperm viability and motility compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were elevated and reduced, respectively, in the NC group compared to the sham group. Treatment with EPO-CH/AL hydrogel group, significantly decreased MDA level and increased SOD levels compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). Apoptosis analysis revealed upregulation of Bcl-2 and downregulation of Bax genes in EPO-CH/AL hydrogel compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed that the EPO-CH/AL hydrogel improved depletion of germ cell population and Luminal spaces compared to NC group but did not fully restore normal histology.

Conclusion: EPO-CH/AL hydrogel effectively improves sperm viability and motility, reduces oxidative stress, and mitigates apoptosis, demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic strategy for SCI-induced infertility.