Effect of vitamins C and E on spermatogenesis in mice exposed to cadmium

Cadmium (Cd) is a potential pollutant of the environment. It manifests cyto-toxic effects in different organs in animals. In the present study, intraperitoneal injection of CdCl2 (I mg/kg body weight) increased lipid peroxidation in Swiss mice testes indicating oxidative stress during 5th to 8th week of post-treatment. The enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CT) and peroxidase (PD) were significantly decreased over the post-treatment phase in Cd-treated mice testes compared to vehicle controls. Further, ascorbic acid content also declined significantly in Cd-exposed mice testes. Following Cd treatment, a marked increase in sperm abnormality percentage and significant decrease in sperm count was observed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of vitamins C and E supplementation on Cd-treated mice testes. Therefore, Cd-treated mice groups were injected with vitamins C and E, separately, to assess the effect of the vitamins in combating Cd-induced cytotoxicity and other manifestations. Supplementation of vitamin C (10 mg/kg body weight) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg body weight) to Cd-induced mice groups declined lipid peroxidation, increased sperm count profile, depressed the percentage of sperm abnormality, increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes mentioned above and also increased the concentration of ascorbic acid to a measurable extent. The role of vitamins in reducing oxidative stress-related effects on spermatogenesis in Cd-treated Swiss mice testes have been reported. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.