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

protective effects on serum testostcronc and cstradiol lcvcls by prcvcnting tho
decreased activities of steroidogenic enzymes in testis of TCDD-treated rats.
The levels of serum FSH and LH remained unchanged in the animals
administered with TCDD and vitamin E which is similar to TCDD-treated groups.
However, the levels of serum prolactin did not decrease significantly in the animals
treated with TCDD and vitamin E as was shown to decrease in the rats treated with
TCDD alone (Fig. 7a to 7e; Table 21). It is thus suggested that co-administration of
vitamin E along with TCDD could impart protective effect on serum prolactin.
53.5 Effect of co-administration of TCDD and vitamin E on nucleic acid and
protein contents in testis
Administration of TCDD along with vitamin E did not show any significant
chanye in the DNA. RNA and protein contents of the testis as was shown to decrease
~n tlx TCDD-treated rats (Fig. 9; l'ablc 23). It is thus suggcstcd that coadministration
of vitamin 1:. along with TCIID could inipart protective efl'cct on
synthetic and metabolic activities of the testis
5.3.6 Effect of co-administration of TCDD and vitamin E on antioxidant system
in testis, epididymal sperm and epididymis
Administration of TCDD along with vitamin E did not show any significant
chanye in the production of superoxide anion, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide in
the crude homogenate, mitochondrial and microsome-rich fractions of testis of rats as
well as epididymal sperm and various regions of the epididymis when compared to
the corresponding groups of control animals (Fig. !Oa to IOc; 'l'ahlc 24a lo 245; I;ig.
14a to 14c; Table 28 and Fig. 18a to 18c; 'l'ablc 3 I ).
Treatments of rats with TCDD along with vitamin E did not alter the level of
antioxidants such as glutathione, a-tocopherol and ascorbic acid in the crude
homogenate, rnitochondrial and microsome-rich fractions of testis as well as
epididymal sperm and epididymis of rats (Fig. 1 la to 1 Ic; Table 2Sa to 25c; Fig. 15a