Protective Effect of Vitamin C against Lead Toxicity of the Reproductive System of Male Rats PDF

Keywords

Antioxidant, gonads, lead, LH, sperm, vitamin C

Abstract

This study assessed the significance of vitamin C in the protection against lead toxicity of the reproductive system of male rats. The treatment of rats with lead acetate (2%) for six weeks, caused a significant decrease in the sperm motility, sperm count, weight of seminal vesicles and prostate gland and serum LH. Moreover, sperm abnormalities were corrected to a large extent in the treated group. The abnormality of the sperm head was more than that of the tail. Some seminiferous tubules of the rats given lead appeared devoid of spermatozoa and with few spermatocytes. Vitamin C reduced the effects of lead on the sperm count and sperm morphology and the structure of the seminiferous tubules.