Abstract: The effects of breakfast cereals on arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity were examined in male Kunming mice. The mice in the model group were administrated with water containing 10 mg/L arsenic from sodium arsenite, while those in the intervention groups were additionally provided with 7.15 or 14.30 g/100 mL of breakfast cereals once every three days for 60 days. All mice had free access to water during the administration period. The antioxidant indexes and histological structure of mouse testicles were examined, and the total number of sperm and the percentage of abnormal sperms were recorded at the end of administration. Our results showed that arsenic intake from drinking water decreased testicular coefficient, sperm quantity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content in mouse testicles. The contents of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) in testicular tissue increased significantly in the arsenic exposed group, accompanied with pathological changes as well as a reduction in total sperm number and an elevation in sperm deformity percentage. After intervention with breakfast cereals, the testicular coefficient increased, and so did the SOD activity and GSH content in testis tissue. In addition, lower contents of H2O2 and MDA appeared in the intervention groups; together with the alleviation of testicular damage, the sperm number increased and the sperm malformation ratio decreased. The above results showed the protective effect of cereal breakfast on arsenic-induced reproductive system damage in male mice, suggesting a preventive approach to reduce arsenic toxicity.

Key words: cereals breakfast, sodium arsenite, mice, reproductive toxicity, oxidative damage