Abstract
Background and objective: It is known that oxidative stress and genomic damage are closely related. Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina, or SP) exhibits an antigenotoxic effect, attributed mainly to its antioxidant capacity. In the present study, the protective effect of SP on mitomycin C (MMC) mutagenicity was evaluated using the dominant lethal assay on male and female mice. Methods: In two independent assays, sexually mature mice of both sexes were orally administered SP at 0, 200, 400 and 800 mg kg-1 for 14 days, followed by five days of intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered MMC (1 mg kg-1). For the male dominant lethal test, treated males were mated with two untreated virgin females during one week, which was carried out three times (in 3 weeks) with distinct females. For the female dominant lethal test, the above doses and schedule of treatments were used, and treated females were caged for seven days with an untreated male (1-2). In all cases, mated females were evaluated at 13-15 days after coitus for incidence of pregnancy, total number of corpora lutea, total implants, and embryonic pre- and post-implantation death. Results: SP orally administered for 14 days previous to MMC exposure inhibited embryonic pre-and post-implantation death when MMC-treated males were mated with healthy females. Conversely, when females exposed to MMC were mated with healthy males, SP pretreatment prevented only post-implantation death. In MMC-exposed males, SP reverted the relative weight loss of male sexual organs and returned sperm quality to basal levels. Conclusion: SP protected germ cells of males and females exposed to MMC.
