Effect of Vitamin C, as an Antioxidant, on Immobilization-Induced Changes in Sexual Behavior and Sperm Count in Male Mice

Sexual behavior in males is vulnerable to stress and it has been suggested that alterations in sexual behavior during stress is concomitant with spermatogenesis dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the effects of immobilization on sexual behavior and whether or not these effects are accompanied by changes in spermatogenesis process. The effect of antioxidant treatment on the sexual behavior and sperm count is also evaluated. 21 male mice were divided into the following three groups: control, immobilization stress (3 hours daily), and immobilization stress (3 hours daily) plus administration of 500 mg/kg of body weight vitamin C. Sexual behavior and sperm count were assessed after 60 days of stress and vitamin C treatment. Mount latency increased significantly, and the number of mounts showed significant decreased in males exposed to immobilization but not in vitamin C treated mice. Moreover, sperm count decreased significantly in the stressed group but mice administrated vitamin C did not show a significant reduction in number of sperms as compared with control unstressed animals. These results indicate that stress has great effects on sexual behavior and sperm count. Interestingly, administration of vitamin C resulted in a reversal in stress-induced inhibition in sexual behavior parameters, and sperm counts.