Protective effect of vitamins E and C on endosulfan-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats

The role of oxidative stress in endosulfan-induced reproductive toxicity has been implicated. This study was performed to evaluate the possible protective effect of vitamins E and C, against endosulfan-induced reproductive toxicity in rats. Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups [n=10 each]. The groups included a control receiving vehicle, a group treated with endosulfan [10 mg/kg/day] alone, and three endosulfan-treated group receiving vitamin C [20 mg/kg/day], vitamin E [200 mg/kg/day], or vitamine C+vitamin E at the same doses. After 10 days of treatment, sperm parameters, plasma lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], plasma testosterone and malondialdehyde [MDA] levels in the testis were determined. Oral administration of endosulfan caused a reduction in the sperm motility, viability, daily sperm production [DSP] and increased the number of sperm with abnormal chromatin condensation. Endosulfan administration increased testis MDA and plasma LDH. Supplementation of vitamin C and vitamin E to endosulfan-treated rats reduced the toxic effect of endosulfan on sperm parameters and lipid peroxidation in the testis. Vitamin E was more protective than vitamin C in reducing the adverse effects of the endosulfan. The findings data suggest that administration of vitamins C and E ameliorated the endosulfan-induced oxidative stress and sperm toxicity in rat. The effect of vitamin E in preventing endosulfan-induced sperm toxicity was superior to that of vitamin C