%0 Journal Article
%T Influence of Vitamin C and Vitamin E on testicular zinc content and testicular toxicity in lead exposed albino rats
%A Oluseyi C Ayinde
%A Sunday Ogunnowo
%A Rita A Ogedegbe
%J BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2050-6511-13-17
%X There were significant (p£¿<£¿0.05) increases in oxidative stress indices and testicular lead content. A significant (p£¿<£¿0.05) depletion of zinc in the testis of lead exposed animals was also observed. Fluctuations were observed in androgen levels of lead treated animals with a significant increase (p£¿<£¿0.05) in Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (TT) content, while there was no significant change in luteinizing hormone (LH) content. Testicular tissue showed an alteration in its normal histology with degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium accompanied by a significant reduction (p£¿<£¿0.05) in the number of luminal spermatozoa. A downgrade in the semen appearance and semen quality ¨Csperm motility, morphology, and count was also observed after lead exposure. VC and VE treatment showed a significant (p£¿<£¿0.05) reversal of the physiological alteration induced by lead.Lead exposure resulted in a decline in the reproductive function of male rats by inducing oxidative stress, inhibiting enzymes and depleting testicular zinc contents. However, results clearly showed that VC and VE attenuated the deleterious impact of lead on the reproductive system.Lead poisoning is an age long environmental hazard [1]. Industries account for an annual production of about 2.5 million tons of lead globally [2]. Lead is present in batteries, leaded gasoline [3], paints, water pipes, insecticides, and some cosmetics. Air, water, soil, food and consumer products are the major routes of human exposure to lead [4]. The accumulation of lead in various tissues and its interference with bioelements accounts for its pathophysiology [5]. The toxic effect of lead on reproduction is pervasive affecting basically all aspects of the reproductive system [6]. One mechanism by which lead exerts its adverse effect is by inducing oxidative stress (OS). Oxidative stress represents an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a biological system's antioxidant
%K Lead
%K Zinc
%K Vitamin C
%K Vitamin E
%K Oxidative stress
%K Testicular toxicity
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/2050-6511/13/17