Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the effects of Withania somnifera (family: Solanaceae) on the antioxidant status and hormonal level in acephate administered rats. Oral administration of acephate (75 mg/kg body weight/day) for 15 and 30 days caused a significant decrease in serum testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration when compared with control group. Serum testosterone, LH and FSH concentration were increased in group IV and group V indicating a positive influence ofW. somnifera on acephate administered rats. The changes in the antioxidant parameters were accompanied by an increase in testicular lipid peroxidation and reduction in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. The level of lipid peroxidation was reduced whereas GSH content, SOD and catalase activity were elevated after treatment with W. somnifera at the dose level of 100 mg/kg body weight/day. In conclusion, this study showed that acephate apart from being a hormonal disrupter also causes oxidative stress which contributed to reproductive toxicity in the male rats. The protective effects of Withania on reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress have also been shown as evidenced by a clear attenuation of acephate-induced hormonal imbalance and oxidative stress. Key words: Testosterone, antioxidant, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.
Highlights
Human reproductive health is a major health problem, indicating the decline in male reproductive health and increase in population of infertile males
This study described that pesticides may disrupt the hormonal function of the male reproductive system and fertility
The spermatozoa, in common with all cell types have developed an elaborate antioxidant defense system consisting of enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced GSH that scavenge and suppress the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
Summary
Human reproductive health is a major health problem, indicating the decline in male reproductive health and increase in population of infertile males. Prolong exposure of pesticides affected the normal functioning of different organ system and produced many clinical effects (Azmi et al, 2006; Sharma and Singh, 2010) They alter the reproductive function by altering sperm count and sperm shape, alter sexual behavior or increase infertility in animals and human beings (Chang et al, 2004; Okamura et al, 2005; Jensen et al, 2006; Joshi and Sharma, 2011; Joshi et al, 2011). Acephate is an organophosphate insecticide used to kill insects by direct contact or ingestion and disrupts their normal nervous system functions by phosphorylating the active site of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, rendering it inactive (Kumar, 2004). A number of studies were conducted on the toxicity of acephate on different organisms and indicated that it is a potent neurotoxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, and cytotoxic compound (Singh and Jiang, 2002)
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