Protective effects of vitamins C and E on spermatogenesis of 1.5 tesla magnetic field exposed rats

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate protective effects of vitamins E and C against 1.5 Tesla static magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on spermatogenesis parameters was the main goal of the present study. Materials and Methods: Ninety-two mature male rats were exposed to 1.5 T MRI static magnetic fields for 30 min with or without vitamins C and E alone or in combination. Animals were sacrificed and the testicular tissues were anatomically sectioned, stained, and the number of germ cells and the diameters of sperm ducts were measured and compared with sham and controls. Results: Results showed that compared to sham, static magnetic fields may reduce the germ cell count (P = 0.000) and sperm ducts diameters (P = 0.020), and vitamins C and E could modify the reduction in germ cell count (P = 0.019) but they did not show any protective effect on sperm duct diameter reduction (0.647). Conclusion: The protective effects of vitamins C and E are different, and depend on the type of effects. It seems that the modifying effects of vitamins are to be additive, but vitamin E plays a more important role than vitamin C against the static magnetic field on spermatogenesis parameters in clinical MRI. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.