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

in the animals administered with TCDD at I and 10 ng dose Icvcls. Thc lcvcls of
some of the antioxidant enzymes were higher in kidney us compared to testis and
epididymis. Thus the levels of antioxidant mechanisms could be higher in kidney
which could prevent it from TCDD-induced oxidative stress at low doses. It is also
possible that toxicity response threshold in terms of oxidative stress is lower in testis
and epididymis than in kidney since low doses of TCDD could not induce oxidative
stress in the kidney of rat.
5.3 Effect of co-administration of TCDD end vitamin E on male rats
Effects of co-administration of TCDD and vitamin E on various parameters of
male reproduction were studied and the results are discussed below.
5.3.1 Effect of co-administration of TCDD and vitamin E on body and organ
weights
Co-administration of TCDI) and vitamin E did not show any significant
change in the body weight of rats as compared to the corresponding groups of control
an~mals (Table 18a) indicating that the general metabolic conditions of the animals
were within the normal range and that the administration oT'TCDD along with vitamin
E did not cause systemic toxicity.
Administration of TCDD along with vitamin E did not cause any reduction in
the weight of the testis when compared to the corresponding groups of control
animals (Fig. 4 a; Table 18a & 18b). It is thus suggested that co-administration of
vitamin E along with TCDD could impart protective effect against TCDD on the
weight of the testis. The weight of the epididymis, seminal vesicles and ventral
prostate did not show any significant dinermces in the rats administered with 'TCDI)
along with vitamin E when compared to the corresponding groups of control animals
(Fig. 4b to 4e; Table 18a & lab). The results suggested that co-administration of
vitamin E along with TCDD could give protection to the epididymis and accessory