ON TESTIS AND EPlDlDYMlS OF RATS - Pondicherry University ...

animals (Fig. 2) thereby causing systemic toxicity. Thus, we selected doses ranging
between 1 to 100 ng/ Kg body weight/ days for 45 days.
Vitamin E is a lipophilic compound most commonly used as an antioxidant.
Administration of vitamin E at the dose level of 20 rngl Kg body weight/ day is
considend to be a therapeutic dose. In the present study TCDD (1, 10 and 100 ng/
Kg body weight1 day) was administered orally along with vitamin E (20 mgl Kg body
weight/ day) to the pubertal rats for 45 days in order to see the protective effects. if
any. exerted by vitamin E supplementation on the TCDD-induced toxicity in male
reproductive system of rats. The animals were killed after 24 h of the last treatment in
order to see the effects of TCDD, with or without supplementation of vitamin E on the
male reproductive system of rats.
5.1.2 Significance of the parameters studied
Monitoring body weight of the animals during treatment provides an index of
the general health status of the animals and such information is important for the
interpretation of reproductive effects. Depression in body weight or reduction in
weight gain may reflect a variety of responses. including rejection of feed and water,
treatment induced anorexia or systemic toxicity. In the present study the weights of
the animals were recorded to monitor such changes. Weight of the testis is largely
dependent on the mass of the differentiated spermatogenic cells and it has been used
as a crude measure of the damage to spermatogenesis (Schlappack el 01.. 1988). A
strong correlation exists between weight of the testis and number of germ cells (Sinha
Hikim el 01.. 1989). Reduction in the weight of testis has been shown to occur due to
the loss of germ cells (Setchell and Galil, 1983). In the present study weight of the
testis was taken to assess the maintenance of various testicular functions.
Weights of the accessory sex organs are dependent on the availability of
androgens, as castration has been shown to reduce the weights due to absence of
androgens. Incrcase in the availability of testosterone has teen shown to cause
bpertmphy md consequent increase in the weights of the accessory sex organs.