Pretreatment with Zinc Alleviates the Adverse Effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol on Cultured Mouse Sertoli Cells: Role of Anti-apoptotic and Antioxidant Activities.

Background: Global rise in cannabis abuse during reproductive years has placed a large number of men at risk for the adverse consequences of δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active component of cannabis. It has been reported that THC affects male fertility and causes testicular cell dysfunction and apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective role of zinc pretreatment against the toxic effects of THC in cultured mouse Sertoli cells and the underlying mechanism.