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

sex organs against TCDD. Weight of the kidney remained unchanged in the animals
co-administered with TCDD and vitamin E (Fig. 4f; Table 18a & 18b).
5.3.2 Effect of co-administration of TCDD and vitamin E on daily sperm
production, epididymal sperm viability, motility and sperm count
The daily sperm production and epididymal sperm viability, motility as well as
epididymal sperm count remained unchanged in the animals administered with TCDD
and vitamin E as compared to the corresponding groups of control animals (Fig. Sa &
Sb; Table 19). It is thus suggested that co-administration of vitamin E along with
TCDD could impart protective effect against TCDD on the epididymal spenn
viability and motility as well as daily sperm production and epididymal sperm count.
5.3.3 Effect of co-administration of TCDD and vitamin E on seminiferous
tubular and lumen diameter
Diameter of the seminiferous tubular and lumen did not show any significant
change in the rats co-administrated with TCDD and vitamin E as compared to the
corresponding groups of control animals (Fig. 6; Table 20). Thus co-administration
of vitamin E along with TCDD could impart protective effect against TCDD to
seminiferous tubules of rat testis.
5.3.4 Effect of co-administration of TCDD and vitamin E on serum hormone
levels and steroidogenic enzymes in testis
The levels of serum testosterone and estradiol did not show any significant
change in the rats co-administered with TCDD and vitamin E as were found to be
decreased in the TCDD-treated rats (Fig. 7a to 7e; Table 21). Co-administration of
TCDD and vitamin E did not cause any significant change the activities of' 3Phydroxysteroid
dehydrogenase and 17P-hydroxysteroid dchydrogenasc in tcslis as
compared to the corresponding groups of control animals (Fig. 8; Table 22). It is thus
suggested that co-administration of vitamin E along with TCDD could impart