Rutin and Vitamin E Improved Male Fertility Indices Following Vanadium and Manganese Coexposure in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Male reproductive health is increasingly at risk from environmental and occupational hazards of heavy metal exposure, which includes vanadium and manganese, causing oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, and disturbed spermatogenesis. The present experimental study was conducted to assess the protective activity of rutin and vitamin E on reproductive toxicity using 40 healthy adult male Wistar rats, which were randomly distributed into eight groups for a period of 21 days: control, vanadium, manganese, combined vanadium + manganese, antioxidants, and combined antioxidant + metals. Sperm parameters, including morphology, motility, and count, were studied from cauda epididymal fluid, while hormonal status, including FSH, LH, and testosterone, was studied from serum samples using standardised procedures. Significant changes were observed in the reproductive system after metal exposure. The group exposed to vanadium and manganese (Group 4) had the lowest percentage of normal sperm morphology (18.33 ± 7.64%) and the highest percentage of abnormal morphology (80.00 ± 10.00%). This group also showed an increase in testosterone levels (3.29 ± 0.97 nmol/L), along with changes in FSH (1.41 ± 0.31 mIU/mL) and LH (1.45 ± 0.43 IU/mL). However, antioxidants such as rutin positively influenced sperm morphology in the exposed group (Group 5; 40.00 ± 5.00%). This group also showed improvements in hormone levels, along with reduced oxidative stress markers. Decreased sperm motility and total count were also improved in the antioxidant-treated groups compared to the metal-exposed group. Vitamin E had a moderate protective effect, whereas the combination of vitamin E and rutin had values close to those of the control group. Thus, the combined effect of vanadium and manganese on the reproductive system shows high reproductive toxicity; however, the antioxidant supplements have shown protective activity. This study indicates the importance of natural antioxidants in maintaining male fertility during heavy metal stress. It has been suggested that antioxidants such as rutin and vitamin E should be used as potential therapies to protect male fertility. In contrast, public health should focus on reducing occupational exposure to reproductive toxins and promoting antioxidant-rich nutrition to protect male fertility.