Evaluation of the effect of electrical stimulation and injection of marked human astrocytes on sperm parameters and repair of spinal cord injury in rats

Abstract

Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord which causes different degrees of sensory and motor disorders and paraplegia. Spinal cord injury is one of the most disastrous injuries to the nervous system, resulting in permanent neurological disorder. Considering the high rates of spinal cord injuries in the world and especially in Iran and one of its important side effects, is, the effect on male reproductive capacity, this study examined the effect of electrical stimulation and injected human astrocytes on sperm parameters and repair of spinal cord injury in rat Field, has been investigated.

Method and materials: In this interventional study, 50 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 gr were used. Male rats were randomly assigned to five experimental groups (each group received 10 rat). The first group is the control group. The second group was sham and underwent laminectomy. The third group after the laminectomy was affected by spinal cord injury. The fourth group, 48 hours after spinal cord injury, 3 μL of marked astrocyte cells were injected to three sites of lesion area in 5 minutes. The fifth group,48 hours after Spinal cord injury received electrical stimulation daily for one hour for 5 weeks. Leukomotor behavior tests such as Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) and Von Frey sensory test were used to determine the amount of damaged spinal cord repair in rats. Spermograms were also used to check sperm parameters (movement, number, viability and sperm morphology). ANOVA test was used to analyze the data.

Results: Sperm count in the SCI group (P <0.001), marked astrocytes (P <0.001) and electrical stimulation (P <0.001) decreased in comparison with the control group. This difference was statistically significant. Progressive motility of sperms in SCI group (P <0.001) and marked astrocytes injection (P = 0.006) was significantly decreased compared to control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in non-progressive motility of sperms. In the study of immobile sperms, only the SCI group (P = 0.021) had a significant difference with the control group. Viability of sperms was significantly reduced in SCI groups (P <0.001) and electrical stimulation (P = 0.029). Abnormal morphology was higher in the sperm of SCI group (P =0.002) than in the control group and this difference was statistically significant. In the test (BBB), there was a significant difference between the groups of electrical stimulation (P = 0) and the injection marked of astrocytes (P = 0.002) compared to the SCI group. In the Von Frey test, there was a significant difference between the SCI group and the two groups of electrical stimulation (P = 0.01) and the injection of marked astrocytes (P = 0.04) throughout the study.

Conclusion: Electric stimulation increased the percentage of sperm with rapid movement and normal morphology and reduced survival, as well as no significant effect on the sperm counts. The injection of marked astrocytes increased the survival of sperm. Electrical stimulation and injection of marked astrocytes improved the sensory and motor status in spinal cord injury rats.

Keywords: Spinal cord injury, electrical stimulation, repair of spinal cord injury, astrocyte, sperm parameters