Protective Effect of Green Tea Extract on Heavy Metals– Induced Oxidative Testicular Damage in Rats

Marwa A. El-Beltagy; Sherif Y. Saleh; Abd El-Rehim A. El-Ghannam; Ibrahim A. Ibrahim

Volume : V, Issue : I, January - 2015

Protective Effect of Green Tea Extract on Heavy Metals– Induced Oxidative Testicular Damage in Rats

Marwa A. El 45 Beltagy, Sherif Y. Saleh, Abd El 45 Rehim A. El 45 Ghannam, Ibrahim A. Ibrahim

Abstract :

Background: Exposure to Lead and Cadmium is associated with various pathological conditions that include reproductive dysfunction. Generation of oxidative stress is one of the possible mechanisms for Lead and Cadmium induced cellular deteriorations. Green Tea Extract (GTE) is an antioxidant and free radicals scavenger and has a chelating property. Aim and Methods: The present study investigates the efficacy of GTE to attenuate Lead and Cadmium– induced oxidative damage in adult rat testicles. A total of 56 male albino rats were divided into eight groups (13rats each). The first group served as control and received Distilled Water only. Rats of the second group received GTE (1.5%) only. Rats of the third group received Lead acetate at the dose of 1g/L of drinking water. Fourth group received GTE (1.5%) 2 weeks before receiving Lead acetate (1g/L) plus GTE (1.5%). Fifth group received Lead acetate (1g/L) plus GTE (1.5%), Sixth group received Cadmium chloride at the dose of 4g/L of drinking water. Rats of seventh group received GTE (1.5%) 2 weeks before receiving Cadmium chloride (4g/L) plus GTE (1.5%). The eighth group received Cadmium chloride (4g/L) plus GTE (1.5%) for 8 weeks the duration of the experiment. Results and Conclusion: The use of GTE in attenuating the damaged effects of Lead and Cadmium on reproduction of male rats, improved its testicular damage, decreased sperm count, testosterone level and inducing antioxidant defense. The present study demonstrated that, administration of GTE attenuated the adverse effects of Lead and Cadmium in rats by inducing antioxidant defense mechanism.