ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

12 adult male and 12 female Wistar albino rats were used to measure the levels of the serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the luteinizing hormone (LH), the estradiol (E2) and the progesterone in female rats, as well as the FSH, the LH and the testosterone in male rats, following 8-hour daily inhalation exposure to gasoline vapours for 6 weeks, to assess the effect of the vapours on the reproductive integrity of experimental animals. The results showed that the levels of serum FSH and LH obtained for female rats in the test group (3.48?0.03 and 19.97?1.20mIU/ml, respectively) were insignificantly lower (p>0.05), compared respectively to the levels obtained for female rats in the control group (3.62?0.12 and 20.06?0.23mlU/ml, respectively), whereas the levels of serum estradiol and progesterone obtained for female rats in the test group (25.02?2.32pg/ml and 0.18?0.02mg/ml, respectively) were significantly lower (p<0.05), compared respectively to the levels obtained for female rats in the control group (39.84?3.64pg/ml and\r\n0.33?0.02mg/ml, respectively). On the other hand, the levels of serum FSH and LH obtained for male rats in the test group (2.87?0.21 and 3.09?0.32mIU/ml, respectively) were insignificantly higher (p>0.05), compared to the levels obtained for male rats in the control group (2.75?0.14 and 2.93?0.12mIU/ml, respectively).At the same time, the level of serum testosterone in the male test rats (7.82?2.17ng/dl) was significantly higher (p<0.05), compared to the level in the male control rats 4.66?1.85ng/gl. The results of this study showed that the adverse effect of inhalation exposure to gasoline fumes on the reproductive integrity in rats is sex-dependent, with the females being more vulnerable.

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.

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 &#8805; 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 &#8804; 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.