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

compartment of the cells (Chainy el at., 1997; Reddy er at., 1999). Determination of
the levels of glutathione, a-tocopherol and ascorbic acid reflect the status of
antioxidants in tissues.
Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione
peroxidase are antioxidant enzymes distributed in different subcellular fractions of
testis as well as in the epididymal sperm and epididymis (Sujatha et al., 2001; Chitra
er a/., 2001; Latchoumycandane et at., 2002a, b, c). Superoxide dismutase is
considered to be the first line of defense against deleterious effects of oxyradicals in
cell by catalyzing dismutation of superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide and
molecular oxygen. Catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase protect
cells from highly toxic hydrogen peroxide by catalyzing hydrogen peroxide into water
and oxygen. In the present studies the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase,
glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in testis. epididymal sperm and
epididymis were determined to assess the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the
TCDD-treated rats.
5.2 Effect of TCDD on male rats
Effect of TCDD on the body weight, organ weights and reproductive
parameters of male rats are discussed in the following sections.
5.2.1 Effect of TCDD on body and organ weights
Administration ol"l'CDD did not cause any signilicant cha~~gc in h)d) weight
of rats as compared to the corresponding groups of control animals (Fig. 3; Table la)
~ndicating that the general me~aboliconditions of the animals wcrc within the nonnal
range and TCDD at these doses did not cause systemic toxicity.
Administration of TCDD caused a significant reduction in the weight of the
testis as compared to the corresponding groups of control animals (Fig. 4a; Table la
& I b). In the male rats TCDD exposure during adulthood has been shown to decrease
weight of the testis (Johnson er at., 1992). It has been reported that TCDD induces a