Background and Aim: Oxidative stress can lead to change in the sperm parameters and cessation of embryological development This study aimed to assess the protective effect of ethylpyruvate (EP) on sperm parameters and trend of in vitro fertilization under oxidative stress conditions produced by phenyl hydrazine (PHZ) induced hemolytic anemia in mice.

Material and Method: 40 NMRI mice with the age range of 8-10 weeks and mean weight of 26±2gr, were randomly divided into four equally groups. The control group received normal saline (0. 1 ml/day, IP). Group2 (PHZ group) was treated with initial dose of PHZ (8mg/100gr/b. w, IP) followed by 6mg/100gr/b. w, IP, every 48hr. Group3, (Group PHZ+EP) received the same dose of PHZ and EP (40mg/kg/daily/IP). Ethyl pyruvate group received only EP (40mg/kg/daily, IP). Treatment period took 35 days. Then, after euthanasia the sperm were collected from caudal region of epididymis and examined for sperm count, sperm viability, motility and morphology. Testis tissue MDA and serum testosterone levels of all experimental groups were also evaluated.

Result: In this study, in PHZ group we found a considerable reduction in the mean percentage of the number of the sperms with damaged DNA and abnormal morphology compared to the control group. After administration of antioxidant these parameters improved significantly (p<0.05). In PHZ group we found significant decrease in the percentage of fertility, blastocysts, and the number of arrested embryos in comparison to the control group, which after administration of ethylpyruvate these parameters improved significantly.

Conclusion: Treatment of the mice with PHZ led to improvement of the sperm parameters and trend of embryological development.

Key words: Ethyl pyruvate, Phenylhydrazine, Sperm parameters, Stress oxidative, Mice.