Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Zinc is important for proper cellular function and protecting cells from stress and damage. Studies have shown that adequate zinc levels are essential for proper spermatogenesis, the process of producing healthy sperm, as zinc deficiency leads to poor sperm quality and even infertility. Men undergoing chemotherapy also show signs of poor sperm quality and suffer from infertility due to the toxic nature of chemotherapeutic agents. In our study we found that a commonly used anti-cancer drug altered important regulators of zinc levels in the immature spermatogenic cells (precursors of sperm) in rat testes. This resulted in an increased ability of these cells to accumulate of zinc over time. We propose that these cells increased their ability to accumulate zinc in order to protect against the stress and damage caused by the toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. This knowledge has implications for supplementation strategies that could help protect the fertility of men undergoing chemotherapy.