Pengaruh Pemberian Coklat (Theobroma cacao) terhadap Kualitas Spermatozoa Tikus Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) yang Terpapar Stres

Abstract: A chocolate compound, flavonoid which is a subgroup of polyphenols, has protective effect on spermatozoa exposed to stress. The flavonoid compound in chocolate, (-)-epicatehin, plays important roles in neutralizing ROS, blocking the production of ROS, and inhibiting enzyme activity of DNA methyltransferase. Stress activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and simpatoadrenomedular systems that have glucocorticoid as their end product that can cause an increase in essential catabolism and trigger the production of ROS. Oxidative stress can reduce the motility of spermatozoa and cause damage to DNA of spermatozoa. This study was aimed to determine the effect of chocolate (Theobroma cacao) on the quality of spermatozoa in stressed Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). This was an experimental study with a post-test only control group design. Samples were spermatozoa of Wistar rats. There were 9 Wistar rats divided into 3 groups, as follows: P0 (control), P1 (stress treatment only), and P2 (stress treatment and chocolate administration). The results showed that there were no significant differences in concentration and motility, albeit, there was a significant difference in morphology of spermatozoa in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Conclusion: Chocolate (Theobroma cacao) can influence the increase of morphologic quality of spermatozoa in stressed Wistar rats.Keywords: chocolate, stress, spermatozoa Abstrak: Kandungan coklat, yaitu flavonoid merupakan subgrup dari polifenol yang memiliki efek protektif terhadap spermatozoa dari paparan stres. Jenis flavonoid dalam coklat, (-)-epicatehin berperan dalam menetralisir ROS, memblokir produksi ROS, dan menginhibisi aktivitas enzim DNA methyltransferase. Stres mengaktifkan sistem hipotalamus-pituitari-adrenal (HPA) dan simpatoadrenomedular yang memiliki produk akhir glukokortikoid yang dapat menyebabkan peningkatan katabolisme esensial dan memicu produksi ROS. Stres oksidatif dapat menurunkan motilitas spermatozoa dan menyebabkan kerusakan DNA spermatozoa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pemberian coklat (Theobroma cacao) terhadap kualitas spermatozoa tikus Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) yang terpapar stres. Jenis penelitian ialah eksperimental dengan post-test only control group design. Sampel penelitian ialah spermatozoa tikus Wistar (Rattus norvegicus). Dilakukan perlakuan terhadap 9 ekor tikus Wistar yang dibagi menjadi 3 kelompok, yaitu P0 (kontrol), P1 (perlakuan stres saja), dan P2 (perlakuan stres dan pemberian coklat). Hasil penelitian tidak mendapatkan perbedaan bermakna pada konsentrasi dan motilitas tetapi terdapat perbedaan bermakna pada morfologi spermatozoa tikus Wistar (Rattus norvegicus). Simpulan: Pemberian coklat (Theobroma cacao) berpengaruh terhadap peningkatan kualitas morfologi spermatozoa tikus Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) yang terpapar stres.Kata kunci: coklat, stres, spermatozoa