Aluminum Exposure for 60 days at Human Dietary Levels Impairs Spermatogenesis and Sperm Quality in Rats

Abstract

Concerns about environmental aluminum (Al) and reproductive health have been raised. We investigatedthe effects of Al exposure at a human relevant dietary level and a high level exposure to Al. Experiment 1(Lower level) rats were treated orally for 60 days: a) controls – ultrapure water; b) aluminum at 1.5 mg/kgbw/day and c) aluminum at 8.3 mg/kg bw/day. Experiment 2 (High level) rats were treated for 42 days:a) controls – ultrapure water; b) aluminum at 100 mg/kg bw/day. Al decreased sperm count, daily spermproduction, sperm motility, normal morphological sperm, impaired testis histology; increased oxidativestress in reproductive organs and inflammation in testis. Our study shows the specific presence of Alin the germinative cells and, that low concentrations of Al in testes (3.35 _g/g) are sufficient to impairspermatogenesis and sperm quality. Our findings provide a better understanding of the reproductivehealth risk of Al.