Protective Antioxidant Efficiency of Garlic against Lead-Induced Renal and Testicular Toxicity in Adult Male Rats

Abstract

Rational: Leads is one of the common heavy metal pollutants which have toxicological effects on various organs in humans and animals. Lead (Pb) exposure leads to the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which affected kidney and testes functions. Objectives: The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of lead on the alterations of biochemical markers related to oxidative stress in kidney and testes of adult male rats and to highlight the protective effect of garlic administration on these biomarkers. Results: The results revealed that lead exposure caused significant elevations in creatinine, urea and uric acid as indicators to renal function, cytokines and inflammatory mediators, concentration of lead in kidney and testis tissues, oxidative stress with significant reduction in weights of kidney and testes, sexual hormones and antioxidants in kidney and testis tissues. Lead intoxicated rats showed marked increase in the percentage of dead sperms and abnormal sperm rate, while significant decrease in sperm concentration and sperm motility. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with garlic prevent degenerative changes induced by lead, reduced oxidative stress, cytokines and inflammatory mediators, and restored the biochemical changes occurring in the kidney and testis tissues to approximately close to normal group.