The Influence of Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide on Sperm Function and Oxidative Stress in Varicocele-Induced Rats

This study aims to investigate the effects of sodium hydrogen sulphide (NaHS) supplementation, a hydrogen sulphide (H2S) donor, on oxidant and antioxidant markers, as well as sperm function in rats with experimentally induced varicocele.

In this experimental study, 55 male Wistar rats were assigned to varicocele (n=25), control (n=20), and sham (n=10) groups. In the varicocele group, five rats received NaHS treatment immediately after surgery for four months and ten rats were treated two to four months after surgery. The remaining ten rats in the varicocele group received no treatment. Similar protocols were followed for the control groups. At the end of four months, all rats were sacrificed, and assessments were made for sperm parameters that included function tests, and testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC).

Varicocele induction significantly impaired sperm parameters and sperm function tests. NaHS treatment for two months increased sperm concentrations, while treatment for two and four months improved motility, chromatin status, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to untreated varicocele rats. After four months, NaHS treatment reduced testicular MDA levels. Testicular TAC significantly increased after two months but decreased after four months of treatment in the varicocele group (P<0.05).

NaHS treatment improved sperm parameters and reduced oxidative stress in varicocele rats. The observed effects depended on the treatment duration.