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The present study evaluates the protective effect of α-lipoic acid (LA) against arsenic-induced testicular and epididymal oxidative damage in rats. Arsenic caused significant reduction in the reproductive organ weights, serum testosterone levels, testicular daily sperm count, epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability, and sperm membrane integrity. Significant reduction in the activity levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione levels with a concomitant increase in the lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content in the testis and the cauda epididymis of arsenic-exposed rats. Arsenic intoxication also enhanced the testicular caspase-3 mRNA levels, disorganization of testicular and cauda epididymal architecture as well as increased arsenic content in the testis and the cauda epididymis of rats. Arsenic exposure also deteriorated fertility ability in male rats over controls. Conversely, α-LA negated the testicular and cauda epididymal oxidative stress and restored the male reproductive health in arsenic-exposed rats.

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Linuron is well known for its antiandrogenic property. However, the effects of linuron on testicular and epididymal pro-and antioxidant status are not well defined. On the other hand, α-lipoic acid is well known as universal antioxidant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: firstly to investigate whether linuron exposure alters antioxidant status in the testis and epididymis of rats and if so, whether the supplementation of α-lipoic acid mitigates linuron-induced oxidative toxicity in rats. To address this question, α-lipoic acid at a dose of 70 mg/Kg body weight (three times a week) was administered to linuron exposed rats (10 or 50 mg/Kg body weight, every alternate day over a period of 60 days), and the selected reproductive endpoints were analyzed after 60 days. Respective controls were maintained in parallel. Linuron at selected doses reduced testicular daily sperm count, and epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability, and number of tail coiled sperm, reduced activity levels of 3β-and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, decreased expression levels of StAR mRNA, inhibition of testosterone levels, and elevated levels of testicular cholesterol in rats over controls. Linuron intoxication deteriorated the structural integrity of testis and epididymis associated with reduced the reproductive performance over controls. Conversely, α-lipoic acid supplementation enhanced sperm quality and improved the testosterone synthesis pathway in linuron exposed rats over its respective control. Administration of α-lipoic acid restored inhibition of testicular and epididymal enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidise) and non-enzymatic (glutathione content), increased lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content produced by linuron in rats. α-lipoic acid supplementation inhibited the expression levels of testicular caspase-3 mRNA levels and also its activity in linuron treated rats. To summate, α-lipoic acid-induced protection of reproductive health in linuron treated rats could be attributed to its antioxidant, and steroidogenic properties.

Objective The central objective of this study was to investigate the cumulative effects restraint stress and sodium arsenite on reproductive health in male rats. Methods Healthy male Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups (n = 8). Animals in group 1 served as controls and did not subjected to any stress. Rats in groups 2, 3, and 4 were subjected to either restraint stress (5 h/day) or maintained on arsenic (25 ppm) via drinking water or both for 65 days. After completion of the experimental period, all the rats were analyzed for selected reproductive endpoints. Results Restraint stress or sodium arsenite treatment increased serum corticosterone levels, reduced testicular daily sperm count, epididymal sperm viability, motility, membrane integrity, and decreased testicular steroidogenic enzymes such as 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases associated with reduced serum testosterone levels, deteriorated testicular architecture, and reduced activity levels of testicular superoxide dismutase and catalase accompanied by elevated lipid peroxidation levels. In rats subjected to restraint stress and sodium arsenite, a significant decrease in selected sperm qualitative and quantitative parameters, serum testosterone levels were observed as compared with rats subjected to sodium arsenite alone. A significant increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation with a concomitant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes was observed in the testis of rats subjected to both restraint stress and sodium arsenite treatment as compared with sodium arsenite alone intoxicated rats. Surprisingly, serum corticosterone levels were significantly elevated in rats following both stressors as compared with arsenic alone treated rats. Analysis of atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed that the accumulation of arsenic in the testis of arsenic-treated and arsenic plus immobilization stress groups was significant as compared with controls. Conclusions Based on the findings, it can be concluded that deterioration of male reproductive health could be accelerated in arsenic intoxicated rats following restraint stress.