The attenuating effect of zinc on Propoxur-induced oxidative stress, impaired spermatogenesis and deranged steroidogenesis in wistar rat

Abstract

Propoxur (PPX), a carbamate pesticide is known to cause reproductive toxicity partly through induction of cellular 
oxidative stress. In the present study, the ability of Zinc (Zn), a known antioxidant to ameliorate testicular oxidative 
stress was investigated in adult male Wistar rats exposed to PPX (10 mg/kg body weight per day) orally for 30 days. 
The results from this study showed that there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the growth rate and relative 
weights of testes of PPX-exposed rats compared to the control. PPX-exposed rats also displayed a significant (p < 
0.005) decreases in plasma testosterone levels, epididymal sperm count and spermatozoa motility when compared to 
the control values. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and a 
significant (p < 0.005) decrease in the activities of Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) in the testes of PPX-exposed animals. 
Zn supplementation in the PPX-exposed rats restored the activities of testicular GPx and the testicular content of MDA 
to the levels of the control group. Co-treatment with Zn also normalized the deranged sperm parameters and hormonal 
profiles. We conclude that Zn administration minimized the evidences of testicular oxidative damage and reversed the 
impairment of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis induced by PPX in the rat.