April - June 2011, Volume 7, Issue 2

Uboh F, Akpanabiatu M, Edet E, Ebong P

Vitamins A, C and E Ameliorate Gasoline Vapour-Induced Toxicity Effect on Sex Hormonal Levels in Female Wistar Rats

Acta Endo (Buc) 2011, 7 (2): 189-198
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2011.189

Background. Adverse effects of gasoline vapour (GV) on reproductive functions have been reported in experimental animals, including the female rats. Aim. Assessment of the ameliorative potencies of vitamins A, C and E against GV-induced toxicity on serum sex hormonal level in female rats. Animals and Methods. Five groups of adult female rats (n = 6) were daily treated respectively with distilled water (control), GV by inhalation (6 hr/day, 5 days /week) for 60 days, vitamins A (400 IU /kg) + GV, C (600 mg/kg) + GV and E (400 IU/ kg) + GV. The animals were sacrificed at the end of experiment, and serum sex hormonal (FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone) levels were determined. Results. Exposure to GV significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) serum FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone levels (2.26 ± 1.02 mIU/mL, 6.80 ± 1.62mIU/mL, 27.58± 4.27 ng/ mL and 18.82 ± 2.56 ng/mL, respectively), compared to control values (5.15 ± 2.54 mIU/ mL, 13.25 ± 3.30 mIU/mL, 54.02± 5.18 ng/ mL and 38.00 ± 3.56 ng/mL, respectively). The serum hormonal levels obtained for GVexposed rats treated with the vitamins (4.30 ± 2.62 mIU/mL, 12.38 ± 2.40mIU/mL, 52.06 ± 6.28 ng/mL and 36.26 ± 3.66 ng/mL, respectively for Vit. A; 4.66 ± 2.48 mIU/mL, 12.75 ± 2.92 mIU/mL, 53.80 ± 7.29 ng/mL and 36.78 ± 3.68 ng/mL, respectively for Vit. C; 5.62 ± 2.84 mIU/mL, 17.22 ± 2.92 mIU/ mL, 69.98 ± 5.66 ng/mL and 46.88 ± 4.0 ng/mL, respectively for Vit. E) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the GV-exposed untreated rats. However, the hormonal levels obtained for vitamin E treated GV-exposed rats were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than the levels for vitamins A and C treated GV-exposed rats, respectively. Conclusion. Vitamin E is more effective than A and C in ameliorating the adverse effect associated with exposure to GV on the female serum sex hormonal levels in rats.

Keywords: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, gasoline vapour, female sex hormones, rats.

Correspondence: Uboh Friday, University of Calabar, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry Dpt., PMB 1115, Calabar 234 Nigeria, T: +2348056881170. Email: fridayuboh@yahoo.com