Ameliorating effects of green tea extract on cadmium induced reproductive injury in male Wistar rats with respect to androgen receptors and caspase- 3

Abstract

Cadmium is one of the potent environmental endocrine disruptors that has adverse effects on male fertility. This study was conducted to investigate the protective role of green tea extract (GTE) on cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) induced reproductive toxicities in male Wistar rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided to 4 groups, each one contained 9 rats. Control group, they were gavaged distilled water, meanwhile the treated groups gavaged CdCl₂ (3mg/kg), GTE (70mg/kg) and CdCl₂+GTE (3mg/kg and 70mg/kg) for 63days. In GTE+ CdCl₂ treated rats, the final body weight, relative testicular weight, epididymal weight, seminal and prostate glands weights were significantly (P<0.05) increased compared to CdCl₂ intoxicated rats. Sperm cell concentration was significantly (P<0.05) increased in CdCl₂+GTE group, while sperm morphological abnormalities were significantly (P<0.05) decreased than CdCl₂ group. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were elevated significantly (P<0.05) in CdCl₂+GTE group, meanwhile catalase activity was significantly (P<0.05) declined than CdCl₂ group. Hypercholesterolemia was observed in CdCl₂ group than control one while GTE+CdCl₂ group revealed significant (P<0.05) reduction in cholesterol level than CdCl₂ treated group. Testicular androgen receptors and caspase-3 protein expression showed marked reduction and increase (P<0.05) in CdCl₂ group than control, respectively. Treatment with GTE with CdCl₂ significantly (P<0.05) increased androgen receptors, while decreased caspase-3 protein than CdCl₂ group. In conclusion, GTE exhibited protective effect on testes by inhibiting CdCl₂ induced oxidative damage and cellular apoptosis.

Keywords: Androgen receptors; Cadmium; Caspase-3; Green tea; Testis.