Effects of vitamin C on epididymal sperm quality following experimentally induced copper poisoning in mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of vitamin C on epididymal sperm quality following experimentally induced copper poisoning in mice. Forty-eight sexually mature male NMRI mice were divided into four different groups of 12 mice as follows: the first group which is treated by gavage with copper sulfate and distilled water daily via IP injection, the second group which received vitamin C by IP injection and distilled water by gavage, the treatment group which is treated by gavage with copper sulfate and received vitamin C by IP injection, and the control group which received distilled water by gavage and IP injection during experimental period. Sperm, blood, and testicular tissue samples were obtained from six cases of 12 mice of each group during experimental period at the fourth and sixth week. The data obtained revealed that all of parameters in the first group after the sixth week were significantly increased in comparison with group C and there is no significant difference between treatment and control groups.