silymarin protects plasma membrane and acrosome integrity in sperm treated with sodium arsenite

Background: exposure to arsenic is associated with impairment of male reproductive function by inducing oxidative stress. silymarin with an antioxidant property scavenges free radicals.objective: the aim of this study was to investigate if silymarin can prevent the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on ram sperm plasma membrane and acrosome integrity.materials and methods: ram epidydimal spermatozoa were divided into five groups: spermatozoa at 0 hr, spermatozoa at 180 min (control), spermatozoa treated with silymarin (20 î¼m) + sodium arsenite (10 î¼m) for 180 min, spermatozoa treated with sodium arsenite (10 î¼m) for 180 min and spermatozoa treated with silymarin (20 î¼m) for 180 min. double staining of hoechst and propidium iodide was performed to evaluate sperm plasma membrane integrity, whereas comassie brilliant blue staining was used to assess acrosome integrity. results: plasma membrane (p< 0.001) and acrosome integrity (p< 0.05) of the spermatozoa were significantly reduced in sodium arsenite group compared to the control. in silymarin + sodium arsenite group, silymarin was able to significantly (p< 0.001) ameliorate the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on these sperm parameters compared to sodium arsenite group. the incubation of sperm for 180 min (control group) showed a significant (p< 0.001) decrease in acrosome integrity compared to the spermatozoa at 0 hour. the application of silymarin alone for 180 min could also significantly (p< 0.05) increase sperm acrosome integrity compared to the control.conclusion: silymarin as a potent antioxidant could compensate the adverse effects of sodium arsenite on the ram sperm plasma membrane and acrosome integrity.