Menadione perturbs oxidative stress biomarkers and testicular function indices of rats.

In this study, we evaluated the influence of menadione on the androgenic, oxidative stress biomarkers, and testicular function indices in rats. Rats (20) were randomized into four groups (A-D) of five rats each. Rats in groups A, B, C, and D received the vehicle of administration (olive oil), 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg body weight menadione intraperitoneally, respectively, for 7 days. Menadione lowered serum cholesterol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone and luteinizing hormone reduced significantly in rats when compared with the control rats. Furthermore, menadione lowered the testicular function indices in the testes of rats. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the testes of menadione-treated rats decreased significantly. Also, glutathione was depleted with concomitant malondialdehyde increase. The findings of this study show that menadione induces testicular toxicity by depleting the antioxidant defense system leading to perturbation in the testicular function indices.