July - September 2010, Volume 6, Issue 3

Uboh F, Udosen E, Ebong P

Protective effect of vitamin C against gasoline vapours-induced reproductive toxicity in male wistar rats

Acta Endo (Buc) 2010, 6 (3): 305-314
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2010.305

Background. The potential measures of preventing environmental pollutants-induced reproductive toxicity in mammals require adequate investigations. \r\nAim. The protective role of vitamin C against gasoline vapors?induced reproductive toxicity was assessed in male rats. \r\nAnimals and Methods. Vitamin C (200mg/kg body weight) was daily administered orally to albino Wistar rats concomitantly exposed to 17.8cm3h-1m-3 of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blend unleaded gasoline vapors(UGV) for 6 hr/day, 5days/week for 10 weeks. \r\nResults and Discussion. No significant changes (P ≥ 0.05) in the serum FSH and LH levels were observed to be associated with exposure to UGV. However, the results showed that UGV caused a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in serum testosterone level and distortions in the architectural structure of the testicular tissues in male rats, compared to the control. This suggests that the gonads may be the target tissue of interaction for UGV reproductive toxicity in male rats. Also, treatment of the exposed rats with vitamin C was observed to produce a significant increase in the level of serum testosterone to a mean value within the range obtained for the control. Moreover, the distorted architectural structure of the testicular tissues observed to be associated with exposure to UGV was significantly prevented by the administration of vitamin C. \r\nConclusion. These observations indicated that vitamin C can be effective in the protection of UGV-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

Keywords: gasoline vapours, reproductive toxicity, vitamin C, male rats

Correspondence: Friday Uboh, University of Calabar, Biochemistry Department,\r\nFaculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Nigeria Email: fridayuboh@yahoo.com