Amelioration of carbendazim-induced testicular dysfunction by vitamin E and pumpkin seed oil in rats

ABSTRACT

Carbendazim, a carbamate fungicide, is one of the most widespread environmental contaminant of major concern to human and animal reproductive health. The present study was undertaken to investigate the ameliorating effect of vitamin E and Pumpkin seed oil on carbendazim-induced testicular toxicity in male rats. Safety profile of vitamin E and pumpkin seed oil was firstly examined on normal rats and found to be safe on all the examined parameters. Adult Sprague dawley male rats were used in this study. Carbendazim [100 mg/ kg] was administered alone or combined with either vitamin E [200 mg/ kg] or pumpkin seed oil [40 mg/ kg] for 48 successive days. Carbendazim exposure significantly reduced the weights of testes, prostates and seminal vesicles. Also, serum testosterone, sperm count, motility and viability were diminished. The incidence of sperm abnormalities and testicular cholesterol content, were markedly elevated. In addition, carbendazim caused oxidative stress as observed by elevation of malondialdehyde [MDA] and lactate dehydrogense [LDH]. The antioxidant system including superoxide dismutase [-SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSHPX] and glutathione [GSH] were also reduced. Carbendazim also produced marked histopathological changes including degeneration of most seminiferous tubules with absence of spermatogenic series in tubular lumen in the testis. Co-administration of either vitamin E or pumpkin seed oil with carbendazim significantly ameliorated most of these deleterious effects where weights of testes, prostates and seminal vesicles were regained. They also elevated serum testosterone level, sperm count, sperm motility and sperm viability. Furthermore, administration of vitamin E and pumpkin seed oil with carbendazim reduced the incidence of sperm abnormalities and nearly normalized the testicular cholesterol content, They also reduced the oxidative stress caused by carbendazim which was associated with normal histopathological features of the testis