The Protective Effect of Chicoric Acid on the Mancozeb-induced Male Reproductive Damage in Mice:

Background and Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of chicoric acid (CA) on mancozeb-induced male reproductive damage in mice. Methods: 65 NMRI male mice were randomly divided into 7 groups (n=8); 1: control group, 2: MZB–induced toxicity 3: MZB+ atropine (0.25 mg/kg daily), groups 4, 5, and 6: MZB+25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of CA respectively. 7: CA (100 mg). The mice were sacrificed thirty-five days later and blood and testis samples were obtained. Testosterone levels, sperm parameters, protamine deficiency, and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) were used to evaluate the reproductive system function. Results: The sperm count and sperm viability decreased in the MZB-intoxicated group; the sperm DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency increased in this group.  Head and neck deformity decreased in MZB+ CA groups (p<0.05). In MZB+ CA groups, the sperm motility type A, and B increased than the MZB group, abnormal sperm morphology within 100 mg/kg CA groups was less than 50 and 25 mg/kg. The groups pretreated with CA showed a significant increase in Leydig cells. Conclusion: The results revealed that chicoric acid has a protective effect on testis tissue damage induced by MZB. So, this is a promising therapeutic choice for the treatment of male infertility. *Corresponding Author: Hakimeh Akbari; Email:  akbarih@gerums.ac.ir Please cite this article as: Forouzandeh H, Ahmadi I, Akbari H. The Protective Effect of Chicoric Acid on the Mancozeb-induced Male Reproductive Damage in Mice. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2021;7:1-10 (e6). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v7.33149