attenuation of detrimental effects of formaldehyde on sperm chromatin quality and rate of apoptosis in mice by curcumin

Objectives: the present study aimed to evaluate the sperm chromatin quality and rate of apoptosis in formaldehyde (fa)-exposed mice and the possible protective effects of curcumin (cur) on the fertility potential of spermatozoa. methods: twenty-four adult male nmri mice were randomly divided into three groups: group ι (control), group ιι (sham) received cur solvent (2 ml/day, intraperitoneal), group ιιι received fa (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), and group ιv received fa+cur (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). after 35 days, the spermatozoa from right cauda epididymis were analyzed using chromomycin a3 (cma3) and tunel staining. result: regarding cma3 and tunel tests, the data revealed a significant increase (p<0.05) in control and sham groups compared to the fa and fa+cur groups. there was also a significant decrease in cma3 tests and apoptosis in fa+cur group compared to fa group (p<0.05). conclusion: cur, as a potent antioxidant, can attenuate detrimental effects of fa on the chromatin quality and apoptosis in an experimental animal model.