Planta Med 2013; 79 - PA28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1351932

Ameliorative potential effect of grape seeds extract on testicular damage induced by sodium arsenite in rat

EA Omara 1, SA Nada 2, SA El-Toumy 3, O Abdel-Salam 4, RS Esmail 1
  • 1Pathalogy Department National Research Center, El-Bohouth Str. Dokki, 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
  • 2Pharmacology Department, National Research Center, El-Bohouth Str. Dokki, 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
  • 3Chemistry of Tannins Department, National Research Center, El-Bohouth Str. Dokki, 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
  • 4Department of Toxicology and Narcotics, National Research Center, El-Bohouth Str. Dokki, 12622, Cairo, Egypt.

Inorganic arsenic is a major environmental pollutant with multiple toxic effects in animal and human populations. Acute and chronic arsenic exposure causes marked damage in various organs, including the testes. The present study was aimed to investigate the grape seeds extract effect on sodium arsenite. Adult rats were administered grape seeds extract (GSE) (75 & 150 mg/kg/day), after 30 minutes they intraperitoneally injected with sodium arsenite (8 mg/kg b.w./day) for 60 days. Sodium arsenite significantly reduced testicular sperm count and motility (p < 0.001) by 53% and 64%, respectively versus control values. Treatment with GSE increases sperm concentration and motility. Testicular weight, plasma testosterone levels, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase levels significantly decreased, as well as, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels significantly increased in testes tissue homogenates of the group treated with sodium arsenite. GSE significantly reversed the reduction of plasma testosterone levels and antioxidant enzyme system toward the normal values in dose dependant manner. Histopathological examination supported the above claims. Microscopic examination of sodium arsenite-treatment rats showed reduction in seminiferous epithelial layer, arrested maturation, damaged Sertoli and leydig cells and perivascular fibrosis were found. The histopathological examination resulted that the combined treatment with GSE and sodium arsenite- markedly reduced these pathological findings. Also, GSE treatment decreased the expression of iNOS, and caspase-3. These results improved that grape seeds extract has a potent protective effect in the treatment of testicular tissue damage caused by sodium arsenite. This effect may be due to the presence of flavonoides and antioxidant properties of GSE and it may be useful in the treatment of testicular toxicity caused by other toxicants.