Anjum M Reshma, Madhu P, Reddy K Pratap, Reddy P Sreenivasula
1 Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2 Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Toxicol Ind Health. 2017 Mar;33(3):265-276. doi: 10.1177/0748233716637543. Epub 2016 Jul 9.
The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of zinc (Zn) in preventing lead (Pb)-induced reproductive toxicity in Wistar rats. The rats were divided into four groups, namely, control group, Pb group, Zn group, and Pb + Zn group. Animals were exposed to Pb (819 mg of Pb/L) or Zn (71 mg of Zn/L) or both through drinking water for 65 days. Rats exposed to Pb showed decreased weights of testes and accessory sex organs. Significant decrease in the testicular daily sperm production, epididymal sperm count, motility, viability, and number of hypoosmotic tail coiled sperm was observed in Pb-exposed rats. Testicular 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity levels and circulatory testosterone levels were also decreased significantly in Pb-exposed rats. A significant increase in the lipid peroxidation products with a significant decrease in the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were observed in the testes and epididymis of Pb-exposed rats. Moreover, the testicular architecture showed lumens devoid of sperm in Pb-exposed rats. Supplementation of Zn mitigated Pb-induced oxidative stress and restored the spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in Pb-exposed rats. In conclusion, cotreatment of Zn is effective for recovering suppressed spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, elevated oxidative status, and histological damage in the testis of rats treated with Pb.
本研究的目的是调查锌（Zn）在预防铅（Pb）诱导的Wistar大鼠生殖毒性方面的有益作用。将大鼠分为四组，即对照组、铅组、锌组和铅+锌组。通过饮用水让动物接触铅（819毫克铅/升）或锌（71毫克锌/升）或两者，持续65天。接触铅的大鼠睾丸和附属生殖器官重量减轻。在接触铅的大鼠中，观察到睾丸每日精子生成量、附睾精子计数、活力、存活率和低渗尾卷曲精子数量显著下降。接触铅的大鼠睾丸3β-和17β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶活性水平以及循环睾酮水平也显著降低。在接触铅的大鼠的睾丸和附睾中，观察到脂质过氧化产物显著增加，而过氧化氢酶和超氧化物歧化酶的活性显著降低。此外，接触铅的大鼠睾丸结构显示管腔中没有精子。补充锌可减轻铅诱导的氧化应激，并恢复接触铅的大鼠的精子发生和类固醇生成。总之，锌的联合治疗对于恢复用铅处理的大鼠睾丸中受抑制的精子发生、类固醇生成、升高的氧化状态和组织学损伤是有效的。
