PURPOSE Male fertility is multifaceted and its integrity is as well multifactorial. Normal spermatogenesis is dependent on competent testicular function; namely normal anatomy, histology, physiology and hormonal regulation. Lifestyle stressors, including sleep interruption and even deprivation, have been shown to seriously impact male fertility. We studied here both the effects and the possible underlying mechanisms of vitamin C on male fertility in sleep deprived rats. METHODS Thirty male Wistar albino rats were used in the present study. Rats were divided (10/group) into: control (remained in their cages with free access to food and water), sleep deprivation (SD) group (subjected to paradoxical sleep deprivation for 5 consequent days, rats received intra-peritoneal injections of vehicle daily throughout the sleep deprivation), and sleep deprivation vitamin C-treated (SDC) group (subjected to sleep deprivation for 5 consequent days with concomitant intra-peritoneal injections of 100 mg/kg/day vitamin C). Sperm analysis, hormonal assay, and measurement of serum oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were performed. Testicular gene expression of Nrf2 and NF-κβ was assessed. Structural changes were evaluated by testicular histopathology, while PCNA immunostaining was conducted to assess spermatogenesis. RESULTS Sleep deprivation had significantly altered sperm motility, viability, morphology and count. Serum levels of cortisol, corticosterone, IL-6, IL-17, MDA were increased, while testosterone and TAC levels were decreased. Testicular gene expression of Nrf2 was decreased, while NF-κβ was increased. Sleep deprivation caused structural changes in the testes, and PCNA immunostaining showed defective spermatogenesis. Administration of vitamin C significantly countered sleep deprivation induced deterioration in male fertility parameters. CONCLUSION Treatment with vitamin C enhanced booth testicular structure and function in sleep deprived rats. Vitamin C could be a potential fertility enhancer against lifestyle stressors.

中文翻译：

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维生素C导致的睡眠不足的减弱取决于男性生育力参数的恶化。

目的男性生育能力是多方面的，其完整性也是多因素的。正常的精子发生取决于睾丸功能。即正常的解剖，组织学，生理学和激素调节。事实证明，生活方式压力源，包括睡眠中断甚至剥夺，都会严重影响男性的生育能力。我们在这里研究了维生素C对睡眠剥夺大鼠雄性生殖的影响及其可能的潜在机制。方法30只雄性Wistar白化病大鼠用于本研究。将大鼠分成每组10只，分为对照组（保持在笼中，可自由进食和饮水），睡眠剥夺（SD）组（连续5天遭受矛盾的睡眠剥夺），大鼠接受腹膜内注射媒介物整个睡眠剥夺过程中每天），以及维生素C治疗（SDC）组的睡眠剥夺（连续5天睡眠剥夺，同时腹膜内注射100 mg / kg /天的维生素C）。进行精子分析，激素测定以及血清氧化应激和炎性标志物的测定。评估Nrf2和NF-κβ的睾丸基因表达。通过睾丸组织病理学评估结构变化，同时进行PCNA免疫染色以评估精子发生。结果睡眠剥夺显着改变了精子活力，生存能力，形态和数量。血清皮质醇，皮质酮，IL-6，IL-17，MDA升高，而睾丸激素和TAC降低。Nrf2的睾丸基因表达降低，而NF-κβ升高。睡眠不足导致睾丸结构发生变化，PCNA免疫染色显示精子发生缺陷。维生素C的使用显着抵消了睡眠不足导致的男性生育能力下降。结论维生素C治疗可改善睡眠不足大鼠的睾丸睾丸结构和功能。维生素C可能是对抗生活方式压力的潜在生育能力增强剂。