The leaf extracts of Camellia sinensis (green tea) ameliorate sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress and testicular dysfunction in rats

摘要

Objective:To investigate the effect of Camellia(C.)sinensis in mitigating oxidative damage and reproductive toxicity in testis induced by sodium fluoride in a rat model.Methods:Twenty-four adult male Wister rats were divided into 4 groups,with 6 rats in each group.Group 1 orally received distilled water(1 mL/100 g body weight)daily and served as the control group,while group 2 received drinking water with 100 ppm sodium fluoride per day for 21 consecutive days,group 3 was administered with only C.sinensis extract by gavage at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight and group 4 received drinking water with 100 ppm sodium fluoride and 100 mg/kg body weight C.sinensis leaf extract per day for 21 consecutive days.At the end of the treatment,the rats were sacrificed under light ether anesthesia.The gonado-somatic index,sperm count and motility,serum level of luteinizing hormone and testosterone were assayed.Lipid peroxidation[malondialdehyde(MDA)level],nitric oxide(NO)production,and activities of antioxidant enzymes-superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase,and reduced glutathione level(GSH)were also analysed.Results:Sodium fluoride treatment significantly decreased gonado-somatic index,sperm count and motility as well as the serum level of luteinizing hormone and testosterone(P<0.05).The histological examination of testes revealed atrophy and degenerative changes in several seminiferous tubules,along with enhanced interstitial space and a reduced numberof Leydig cells.There was a highly significant increase in NO and MDA production(P<0.05),while SOD,catalase activities and GSH level decreased significantly(P<0.05).However,C.sinensis significantly restored testicular weight,sperm parameter,hormonal level(P<0.05),and also reversed MDA and NO generation and antioxidant enzymes activities in the testicular tissue(P<0.05).Conclusions:C.sinensis may have an ameliorative role against sodium fluoride-induced oxidative damage in the testis probably because of its antioxidant property.