Abstract
The safety of vermiculite‐nanocellulose (VEN) hybrid on the male reproductive system is not known. Hence we investigated the effects of VEN on the biochemical and hormonal indices of rats. Animals were orally exposed to VEN at 0, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight for 14 consecutive days. Administration of VEN had no effect on organo‐somatic index of the testes. Although Gamma –glutamyl transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities and hydrogen peroxide level remained unaffected, exposure of rats to VEN significantly depleted myeloperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde levels in the testes of treated rats, when compared to control. The spermiogram of VEN‐exposed rats showed a significantly higher sperm count and lower sperm morphology rates than control group. Treatment with VEN also significantly increased circulatory concentrations of follicle‐stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, and decreased testosterone levels at the 20 mg/kg dose. Histoarchitecture of the testes, in the treatment groups, except at the 20 mg/kg dose, revealed normal looking Leydig and Sertoli cells. The epididymis presented with tubules completely filled with spermatids across all treatment groups. Taken together, our study show that VEN could play an important role in male reproduction in rats, especially in redox regulation and stimulation of the gonadotropins.Support or Funding InformationThis research was done without specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not‐for‐profit sectors.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
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