Protective effects of ascorbic acid and selenium against ammonium metavanadate-induced male reproductive toxicity in rats

ABSTRACT

The possible protective effects of ascorbic acid and/or selenium against the male reproductive toxicity of a pentavalent inorganic vanadium compound were investigated in male rats. Seven groups of adult rats, 20 rats each, were used in this experiment. The first group received untreated drinking water and served as control. The 2[nd] group received drinking water treated with ammonium metavanadate. The 3[rd] and 4[th] groups were given ascorbic acid and sodium selenate, respectively. However, the 5[th] 6[th] and 7[th] groups received the same ammonium metavanadate treated drinking water and given ascorbic acid; sodium selenate; ascorbic acid + sodium selenate, respectively. Ammonium metavanadate was administered via drinking water at a concentration of 200 ppm. However, ascorbic acid and sodium selentate were given orally at daily doses of 250 and 0.5 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. Both treated and control animals were sacrificed at the 35[th] and 70[th] days for studying the effects of vanadium and vanadium protectors on sex organs, sperm parameters and testicular biochemistry. Our results revealed that ammonium metavanadate exposure resulted in decreased weight of sex organs; pathological changes in testes, epididymis and prostrate and biochemical alterations in the testicular glycogen content, cholesterol level and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities. Moreover, hypospermia, increased abnormal and deal sperms and decreased sperm motility were also recorded. On the other hand ascorbic acid and sodium selenate supplementation produced variable degrees of protection. The protective effects of ascorbic acid were observed in the weight changes of sex organs; pathological changes in the testes, epididymis and prostate gland; sperm parameters and testicular biochemistry. Selenium induced a lesser degree of protection in the studied parameters than ascorbic acid and there was mild histopathological changes in the testes, epididymis and prostate. However the use of a combination of both ascorbic acid and selenium offered the best degree of protection. In conclusion, administration of ascorbic acid and sodium selenate had significant protective effects on the male reproductive system of rats especially the testes against vanadium - induced oxidative damage and the use of a combination of both ascorbic acid and selenium provides the better protection than when each one given alone