Abstract

The present study evaluated the protective effect of fluted pumpkin seeds (FPS) on atrazine (ATZ)-induced testicular damage. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five animals each. The control animals (Group A) received corn oil (2 mL/kg body weight), Group B animals received 50 mg ATZ/kg body weight by gavage, while Groups C and D received 50 mg ATZ/kg body weight once a week in addition to the gavage of 25 mg FPS/kg body weight and 50 mg FPS/kg body weight respectively for 60 days. The results showed that testicular myeloperoxidase activity and nitrite concentration were decreased in all groups compared to the control value. The increase in malondialdehyde and decrease in glutathione concentrations in group B were abrogated in group C (p < 0.05) but not in group D animals. The increase in γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and decrease in lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities in the group B animals were also normalized to control values in group C but not in group D animals. Interestingly, the testis of the group D animals showed massive depletion of germ cells and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules of these animals were decreased compared to all other groups. However, the number of motile sperms, abnormal sperms and sperm count in Group D animals were similar to the ATZ-treated animals and lower than control values. In conclusion, FPS protected against ATZ-induced testicular damage but can also harm the testis at a higher dose.

摘要

本研究评估了南瓜籽 (FPS) 对阿特拉津 (ATZ) 引起的睾丸损伤的保护作用。将二十只成年雄性 Wistar 大鼠分成四组，每组五只。对照动物（A 组）接受玉米油（2 mL/kg 体重），B 组动物通过管饲法接受 50 mg ATZ/kg 体重，而 C 组和 D 组每周一次接受 50 mg ATZ/kg 体重。除了分别以 25 mg FPS/kg 体重和 50 mg FPS/kg 体重灌胃 60 天。结果表明，与对照值相比，所有组的睾丸髓过氧化物酶活性和亚硝酸盐浓度均降低。B组丙二醛的升高和谷胱甘肽浓度的降低在C组中被消除（p < 0.05) 但在 D 组动物中没有。B组动物中γ-谷氨酰转肽酶的增加和乳酸脱氢酶活性的降低也被标准化为C组的对照值，但在D组动物中没有。有趣的是，与所有其他组相比，D组动物的睾丸显示出大量的生殖细胞消耗，并且这些动物的生精小管直径减小。然而，D组动物的活动精子数量、异常精子数量和精子数量与ATZ处理的动物相似，低于对照值。总之，FPS 可以防止 ATZ 引起的睾丸损伤，但也可以在更高剂量下伤害睾丸。