The effect of vitamin C on Endosulfan-induced oxidative stress parameters in prepubertal rats

Introduction and Aim: Oxidative stress plays a very important role in endosulfan-induced toxic effects on reproductive organs. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant which plays an important role in decreasing oxidative stress. The present study was aimed to investigate the protective role of vitamin C against endosulfan-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats. To investigate a protective effect of vitamin C against endosulfan induced toxicity on biochemical changes. Materials and Methods: Seventy male neonatal Wistar rats were divided into  seven groups. The group  I was taken as the control group, the endosulfan-treated were grouped into II (3 mg/kg body weight (BW) and group III (6 mg/kg BW), Group IV (9 mg/kg BW) and Group V (12 mg/kg BW). Group VI (9 mg/kg BW) and group VII (12 mg/kg BW) were pretreated with vitamin C (20 mg/kg BW) for 60 days. After  the experimental procedures, the testicular weight, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme and testosterone in plasma, LDH, steroidogenic enzymes 3?-HSD and 17?-HSD in testis were evaluated. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical significance. Results: Significant improvement in the testicular weight (P<0.05) , LDH (P<0.05) levels both in plasma and testis, increase in testosterone(P<0.001) and steroidogenic enzyme levels(P<0.001) was observed in the group pretreated with vitamin C treated group when compared to the endosulfan treated group. Conclusion: Vitamin C decreases the toxic effect of endosulfan on testis. The present action might be  due to its antioxidative properties.