The effect of lead toxicity on male albino rats reproduction with ameliorate by vitamin E and pumpkin seeds oil

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. Faculty of Veterinary. Medicine. Benha University

Abstract

Lead is an industrial pollutant that may exert specific toxic effect on mammals. The aim of study was to
investigate the protective effect of vit. E and pumpkin seeds oil on male reproductive system of albino
rat induced by lead toxicity , the studying toxic effect of lead on body weight , testis weight, Glutathione,
Glutathione-s- transferase, lipid peroxide, testosterone, lead residue , sperm gram, Nrf2 gene expression
and histopathological change in testes of rat. Sixty male albino rats randomly divided into 4 groups.
Group I was given olive oil 3 times a week orally, group II was given 1.5 g/L lead acetate daily in
drinking water, group III was given lead acetate plus 600 mg/kg/ bwt vit. E orally 3 times a week, while
group IV was given lead acetate plus 288 mg/kg/bwt pumpkin seeds oil orally 3 time a week. The
experiment was extended for 8 weeks. Our results revealed significant decrease in body weight, GSH,
GST, testosterone hormone level and sperm viability, and significant increase in MDA, concentration
of lead, sperm abnormality and expression of Nrf2 gene in group II without any significant changes in
testis and epididymis weight. Moreover, the pathological changes in testes showed focal degeneration
with loss of spermatogenic series in the seminiferous tubules. All above mentioned result were
significantly improved in group III & IV. In conclusion, vitamin E and pumpkin seeds oil have a
protective effect on the testicular damage induced by lead.

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