relation of antioxidants and sodium nitrite on the oxidation reduction system and reproductive ability of male rats

ABSTRACT

A total of forty-nine Sprague -Dawley adult male rats administered standard diet with sodium nitrite and randomly classified into control and six treated rat groups which consumed vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium,or selenium with vitamin C, vitamin E and both vitamins C and E. The study was assigned for eight weeks. Blood hemoglobin and packed cell volume, and also serum [LPX], [GPX], [SOD] and testosterone hormone as well as testis LPX, GPX, zinc, cupper and iron were also estimated. Testis of male rats were histopathologicaly examined. It was found that addition of vitamin C or E and selenium could significantly increase the final body weight, body weight gain and FER when compared with control group. The consumption of combination of vitamin C, E and selenium had the highest values of hemoglobin and packed cell volume when compared with control group. The mean values of serum [LPX] were significantly decreased in rat groups which treated with vitamin C or E or selenium [1st, 2nd, 3rd groups] and appeared highly significant decreased in rat groups which consumed selenium with vitamin C or E or both of them while the values of [GPX] were highly significant increased in all treated rats groups but the value of [SOD] was non significant difference in the 1st group when compared with control group. The value of testis LPX was significantly decreased but testis [GPX] were significantly increased in all treated rat groups when compared with control group. The mean values of testis zinc were significantly increased in all treated rat groups except rat groups which consumed vitamin E or selenium while copper values were significantly increased in 4th, 5th and 6th rat groups but iron values were significantly decreased in all treated rat groups when compared with control group. Testis of control group showed degeneration of testis cells but consumption of vitamin C and E showed slight degeneration of testis cells while consumption of selenium, in addition of vitamin C or E or both showed normal histological structure of testis cells. In conclusion, the administration of combination of antioxidants of vitamins C and E and selenium can lower the side effects of NaNO2 and improve the healthy status of testis with increase of reproductive ability