Assessment of the Protective Impact of Vitamin E on Sex Hormones and Sperm Parameters of Formaldehyde-treated Male Rats: A Preliminary Investigation

Background: Lifestyle factors, including environmental and occupational exposure, have a key role in reproductive health status and may impact fertility. Formaldehyde (FA) is a suspected reproductive toxicant, which may cause significant adverse effects on the reproductive system. This study was aimed at detecting the impact of FA and the possible protective role of vitamin E on the male reproductive system in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control rats, rats treated with vehicle (corn-oil), rats treated with 10 mg/kg/day FA (FAt), and rats treated with FA plus 30 mg/kg/day vitamin E plus vehicle (FAt+ vitamin E) for two weeks. After treatment, sex hormone levels were examined using ELISA. Moreover the count, morphology, and motility of sperm, were observed. Results: The sperm count and the percentage of rapid progressive sperm were significantly decreased in rats in the FAt-treated group compared with those in the control and vehicle-treated groups (P<0.05). Vitamin E treatment significantly improved the parameters examined in the FAt+ vitamin E group (29.85±8.62 vs. 10.04±4.79 for sperm count and 60.50±5.67 vs. 42.19±8.02 for sperm motility). Moreover, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels mildly decreased in the FA exposure group, although the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that FA exposure had a negative impact on sperm parameters and some reproductive hormones in rats and vitamin E attenuated the deleterious impact of FA on the reproductive system of adult male rats.