The Potential Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Reproductive Profile of Male Rat and its Possible Consequences

Zinc (Zn) has antibacterial and antifungal properties, so, it is being widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. Transition metal especially Zn deficiency has deleterious effects all over the world due to wide consumption of Zn deficient food byproduct. Several studies have reported that transition elements especially Zinc deficiency affects the endocrine and reproductive system. This overview comprises the information about negative effects of Zn deficiency on reproductive system of male rat and their possible outcomes. Scientific studies indicated that Zn deficiency severely affects the reproductive physiology of male rats. Zn deficiency suppresses the function of male rat testes inclosing spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis by reducing the production of androgen hormone. In addition, Zn deficient rats also indicated testicular atrophy, primary and secondary spermatogonial stem cells disruption, lower number of sperm cells count, sperm quality, motility, viability, enhance in oxidative stress, inhibition of Testosterone (T) level which, in turn may cause infertility. The different consequences in animal models by zinc application are dose and duration dependent. Several studies propose that both higher and lower Zn concentration can effects the rat reproductive function. Therefore, the available outcomes revealed that Zn deficiency might have significant influence on luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone affecting the sperm physiology and histology in certain tissues.