Insufficient sleep model and male reproductive function; the role of concomitant zinc supplementation

Abstract

Background: Insufficient sleep (IS) in today’s society is gaining recognition as a public health concern, with increasing evidences that linked it to poorer  health outcomes. Coincidentally, there is remarkable decline in fertility rates, in these industrialized societies which is believed to be due to lifestyle  modifications. We therefore set up IS model of sleep deprivation (SD), to study its effects on male reproductive functions and the influence of  concomitant Zinc supplementation on those effects.

Methods: Twenty four (24) male Wistar rats (aged 12- 14 weeks) were randomly grouped into three:  Control, IS and ISZ models. IS and ISZ models were subjected to SD for 18 hours (07:00pm – 01:00pm next day) using Modified Multiple Platform Method  (MMPM). The rats in ISZ model were given Zinc sulphates (5mg/animal/day) while those in control and IS models were given distilled water  (1ml/animal/day) by gavage daily for 56 days respectively. Serum corticosterone, testicular tissue Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total Antioxidant Capacity  (TAC), male reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, Testosterone and Estradiol) and Sperm counts, morphology and motility were evaluated and statistically  compared.

Results: Sleep deprivation in IS model resulted in significant increase (p<0.05) in serum Corticosterone, testicular tissue MDA, serum FSH and  significant decrease (p<0.05) in testicular tissue TAC, serum Testosterone, serum Estradiol, sperm count and percentage of sperm with active progressive  motility compared to the control. On the other hand, concomitant Zinc supplementation (ISZ model) significantly (p<0.05) increases testicular tissue TAC,  serum Estradiol and significantly (p<0.05) decreases testicular tissue MDA and serum FSH compared to the IS model.

Conclusion: The IS model of SD  deteriorates male reproductive functions, while concomitant Zinc supplementation ameliorates some of these functions.