Comparison of the protective effects of garlic (Allium sativum L) extract, vitamin E and N acetyl cystein on testis structure and sperm quality in rats treated with lead acetate

Comparison of the protective effects of garlic (Allium sativum L) extract, vitamin E and N acetyl cystein on testis structure and sperm quality in rats treated with lead acetate

2013

E06580

The deterioration of male reproductive function is one of the major manifestations of lead exposure. For exploring the protective effects of some antioxidants (garlic extract, vitamin E and N acetyl cystein) on testicular lead toxicity, 25 healthy adult male rats were divided into 5 equal groups: the first group was reserved as the not exposed and not treated group (negative control) whereas the second group served as positive control (lead acetate administration in drinking water (1000 ppm) for 28 days), and rats from the 3 last groups were intoxicated with lead acetate but treated with aqueous garlic extract (500 mg/kg/day by gavage), vitamin E (350 ppm in the ration) and N acetyl cystein (800 ppm in the ration), respectively. Sperm quality, testis stereologic, morphometric and histological changes were assessed on day 28. Lead poisoning has significantly affected sperm quality (reduction in epididymal sperm count, in sperm motility and viability), reduced seminiferous tubules characteristics (histological proportions, epithelium height and volume density) and induced necrotic changes mainly in secondary spermatocytes. Sperm viability was significantly increased with garlic or vitamin E treatment and epididymal sperm count with N acetyl cystein treatment. Significant increases in the seminiferous tubule epithelium height and volume density as well as in the proportions of seminiferous tubules within testis (only with the vitamin E) were observed with antioxidant co-treatments. However, histological lesions were still present albeit diminished. These results show that testis lead toxicity was mediated by oxidative stress and that garlic extract may act as an antioxidant such as vitamin E and N acetyl cystein, partially preserving sperm quality and tubule histological organisation.

164(1):27-33, REVUE DE MEDECINE VETERINAIRE

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