Open AccessEffect of L-ascorbic add supplementation on testicular oxidative stress and endocrine disorders in mature male rats exposed to intensive swimming exercise
Author(s) -
Prabhat Kumar Samanta,
Indranil Manna,
Kuladip Jana
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
reproductive medicine and biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1447-0578
pISSN - 1445-5781
DOI - 10.1007/bf03016150
Subject(s) - ascorbic acid , endocrinology , medicine , oxidative stress , malondialdehyde , luteinizing hormone , glutathione peroxidase , follicle stimulating hormone , glutathione , prolactin , testosterone (patch) , sperm , superoxide dismutase , chemistry , hormone , andrology , biochemistry , enzyme , food science
In order to investigate the ameliorative potential of L-ascorbic acid on intensive swimming exercise induced testicular oxidative stress, 18 Wistar male rats (age: 3 months, weight: 127.5 ± 5.3 g) were randomly divided into the following groups: (i) control group (CG, n = 6); (ii) experimental group (EG, n = 6); and (iii) supplemented group (SG, n = 6). An exercise protocol of 3 h swimming per day, five days per week was followed for 6 weeks in EG and SG with no exercise in CG. In SG, L-ascorbic acid was supplied orally at a dose of 25-mg/kg of bodyweight each day for 6 weeks. A significant decrease ( P < 0.05) was noted in paired testicular weights, epididymal sperm count, testicular Δ 5 , 3β-hydroxyseroid dehydrogenase, 17β-hydroxyseroid dehydrogenase, plasma levels of testosterone luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, the numbers of preleptotine spermatocytes, midpachytene spermatocytes and stage 7 spermatids of stage VII seminiferous epithelium cycle in EG when compared with CG. A significant elevation ( P < 0.05) in plasma corticosterone and testicular content of malondialdehyde along with a significant reduction ( P < 0.05) in glutathione, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase were noted in testes of EG compared with CG. No significant change was noted in final bodyweight or numbers of spermatogonia-A among the groups. Furthermore, L-ascorbic acid supplementation restored the above parameters to the control level. Conclusion: It can be concluded that intensive swimming exercise induced oxidative stress causes dysfunctions in the male reproductive system, which can be protected by L-ascorbic acid. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5 : 145-153).