Ameliorative action of eugenol on nitrate induced reproductive toxicity in male rats

Abstract

There is a great concern for studies to prevent nitrate (NO3) induced male reproductive toxicity as it might lead to infertility. Therefore, the study was aimed to investigate ameliorative effects of eugenol on NO3 induced male reproductive toxicity in wistar rats. Adult male rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=5). The first group was served as control, the second and third group of rats were treated with 100mg/kg bw of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and NO3 contaminated ground water respectively. The fourth and fifth group of rats were pretreated orally with eugenol (100mg/kg bw) and then exposed to NaNO3 and NO3 contaminated ground water respectively. He treatment was continued for 52 days. Nitrate exposure significantly decreased the sperm motility, testicular 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity, serum concentration of testosterone, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase of testis and spermatozoa and different categories of germ cells in stage VII of spermatogenesis. Further, there was significant increase in sperm abnormality and levels of of nitrite (NO2) and malondialdehyde in testis and spermatozoa of NO3 treated rats. In addition, NO3 exposure affected histological architecture of seminiferous tubules of testis. It was established that NO3 induced high production of NO2 and further induces oxidative stress and thereby affect spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis and sperm motility. However, in the present study, pretreatment of eugenol prevented NO3 induced reproductive alterations by decreasing the level of NO2. These findings clearly showed the protective action of eugenol against NO3 induced oxidative stress on male reproductive system.