Abstract

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF IVERMECTIN AND VITAMIN E AGAINST TESTICULAR TOXICITY IN RATS

Shalaby M. A.*, El Banna H. A., Shimaa R. Imam and Reham M. Abd-Elsalam

ABSTRACT

The protective effect of ivermectin (IVM) and vitamin E (Vit. E) alone and in combination against testicular toxicity induced by sodium valproate (SVP) in rats was investigated. Thirty five sexually mature Sprague Dawley male rats were randomized into 7 equal groups. Group 1 was kept used as negative control and the other 6 groups were orally administered SVP (500 mg/kg) daily during the last week of experiment period (8 weeks) to induce testicular toxicity. Group 2 was positive control and groups 3,4,5,6 and 7 were orally pretreated with therapeutic or double therapeutic dose of IVM or Vit. E alone and concurrently for 8 weeks, respectively. Blood samples were withdrawn for determination of testosterone, FSH and LH serum levels. Semen samples were collected from cuda epididymis for semen analysis. Rats were sacrificed and sexual organs were removed and weighed. Histopathology of testes and superoxide dismutase and catalase antioxidant enzymes activity in testicular tissue were also performed. The results denoted that oral pretreatment with IVM concomitantly with Vit. E increased the relative weight of testes and sperm motility, count and viability in SVPintoxicated rats. There were also significant increases in serum testosterone and FSH levels and testicular antioxidant enzymes activity associated with amelioration of degenerative changes in the testis. In conclusion, oral pretreatment with IVM and Vit. E exerts protective and antioxidant effects against testicular toxicity in rats. Further studies are needed to explore the reversibility and mechanisms of the protective action of ivermectin on male fertility and spermatogenesis.

Keywords: *Ivermectin *Sodium valproate *Testis *Sperm *Antioxidant *Histopathology.