RESUMEN
Objective: Atrazine [ATZ] as a widely used herbicide is considered as a potent endocrine disrupter which adversely affects reproductive systems in both genders. This study aimed to assess the effects of testosterone [T]- and vitamin E [VitE]- alone and their co-administration on testicular function and sperm parameters after exposure to ATZ in rats
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the rats [n=30] are assigned into the following 5 groups: control-sham group [n=6] receiving corn oil, ATZ group [n=6] receiving 200 mg/kg ATZ alone, ATZ+VitE group [n=6] receiving 150 mg/kg ATZ+VitE, ATZ+T group [n=6] receiving 400 micro g/kg ATZ+T, and ATZ+VitE+T group [n=6] receiving ATZ+VitE+T for 48 consecutive days. Total antioxidant capacity [TAC], total thiol molecules [TTM], and malondialdehyde [MDA] were analyzed. Serum levels of T, luteinizing hormone [LH], and inhibin-B [IN-B] were also determined. Histological examination and sperm analysis were performed. The data were analyzed using Graph-Pad Prism software version 2.01
Results: Co-administration of VitE and T significantly [P<0.05] increased ATZ-decreased TAC and TTM levels and reduced ATZ-increased MDA content. T and VitE significantly [P<0.05] increased serum levels of ATZ-reduced T [1.94 +/- 0.96], IN-B [122.10 +/- 24.33] and LH [0.40 +/- 0.10]. The T+VitE animals showed a reduction in apoptotic cells and an increase in Leydig cells steroidogenesis. Co-administration of T and VitE significantly [P<0.05] reduced the ATZ-induced DNA disintegrity and chromatin de-condensation. VitE and T protected germinal cells RNA and protein contents against ATZ-induced damages
Conclusion: T and VitE in simultaneous form of administration were able to normalize the ATZ-induced derangements through promoting antioxidant capacity and endocrine function