Abstract
Background: Lead acetate, a toxic heavy metal, adversely affects male reproductive health in both humans and animals. However, its specific impact on sperm quality and concentration in Wistar rats remains understudied. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of lead acetate on sperm quality and concentration in male Wistar rats, assessing motility, viability, total sperm count, and morphology. Additionally, it evaluated whether a recovery period could mitigate these adverse effects. Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of 10 each: Control (1 mL/kg BW distilled water), Lead Acetate (60 mg/kg BW orally for 28 days), and Recovery (28 days lead acetate followed by 28 days distilled water). Sperm samples were assessed for various parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with significance set at P < 0.05, using GraphPad Prism 8. Results: The lead acetate-exposed group (Group 2) showed significantly reduced sperm motility, viability, and total sperm count compared to the control group (Group 1). Additionally, Group 2 exhibited a higher incidence of sperm head abnormalities (P < 0.05). The recovery group (Group 3) demonstrated some improvement in sperm parameters compared to Group 2, but these improvements were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that exposure to lead acetate has a substantial negative impact on the capacity of sperm to move, survive, and reproduce in male Wistar rats.