Journal of Environmental Biology

Cypermethrin induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats:

Protective role of Tribulus terrestris

Poonam Sharma¹, Amir Ul Huq¹?and Rambir Singh²*

1Department of Zoology, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi-284 128, India

2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi-284 128, India

*Corresponding Author email : sehrawat_r@yahoo.com 

  Publication Data

?Paper received:

?08 May 2012

?Revised received:

?17 August 2012

?Accepted:

?24 December 2012

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate role of ethanolic extract of Tribulus terrestris (EETT) against α-cypermethrin induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. 24 male Wistar rats weighing about 250-300g were divided in four groups. Group-I was control. α-cypermethrin (3.38 mg kg-1b.wt.) was given to group-II for 28 days. In Group-III, α-cypermethrin and EETT (100 mg kg-1b.wt.) were administered in combination for 28 days. Rats in group-IV were given EETT for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed, testes and epididymis were removed and sperm characteristics, sex hormones and various biochemical parameters were studied. Decrease in weight of testes and epididymis, testicular sperm head count, sperm motility, live sperm count, serum testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total protein content and increase in sperm abnormalities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) level was observed in rats exposed to cypermethrin. In combination group-III, EETT treatment ameliorated a-cypermethrin induced damage. EETT treatment in group-IV increased testes and epididymis weight, sperm head counts, sperm motility, live sperm counts, testosterone, FSH, LH, GSH, CAT, SOD, GST, GR, GPx and total protein content. The study suggested that Tribulus terrestris plant possess reproductive system enhancement and antioxidant activity.?

Key words

Cypermethrin, Reproductive toxicity, Sex hormones, Tribulus terrestris, Wistar rats

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