Hepatorenal and Testicular Protective Effects of Lycopene against Cadmium Induced Toxicity in Male Rats

Abstract

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal in the contaminated environment which accumulates in different organs of the human and animal. Cd exposure leads to the production of reactive oxygen species present study was performed to evaluate the effect of cadmium on the biochemical criteria (ROS). The related to oxidative stress in kidney, liver and testis of adult male rats and to clarify the protective effect of pre and post treatment with lycopene on these criteria. The results showed that cadmium treatment caused significant elevations in liver and kidney weights, serum creatinine, urea, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferse (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamaglutamyltransferase (GGT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) with significant reductions in weights of testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate, serum total protein and plasma testosterone. It also markedly increased lipid peroxidation and cadmium concentration in kidney, liver and testis tissues, while significantly decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and reduced glutathione in the tissues of the three organs. Cadmium intoxicated rats showed also considerable increase in the percentages of dead sperms and abnormal sperm rate, while marked decrease in sperm concentration and sperm motility as compared to the control group. Pre-supplementation with lycopene prevented degenerative changes induced by cadmium, reduced oxidative stress and restored the biochemical changes occurring in kidney, liver and testis tissues to near normal group (control). In addition pretreatment with lycopene was more effective than post- treatment in reversing almost all hepatorenal and testicular parameters.