Lead is a ubiquitous environmental and industrial pollutant that may have toxic effects on the male. Vitamins may protect against toxic effects of lead in the liver and reproductive system, which is confirmed by our initial research. The aim of this study was to further investigate the protec-tive effects of vitamins (ascorbic acid combined with thiamine) on lead acetate (Pb)-induced repro-ductive toxicities in mice and study the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. Forty-five male mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, 15 mice in each and received daily intragastric ad-ministration with control, Pb (20 mg/kg), and Pb+vitamins (ascorbic acid of 420 mg/kg+thiamine of 30 mg/kg) for 6 weeks, respectively. The Pb-treated animals showed significant decreases in the epididymal sperm count and motility compared to the control group, while the Pb+vitamins group had significant increases for these variables. Moreover, an increasing apoptosis of germinal cells in-duced by Pb was reduced by vitamin treatment. Pb induced the activation of Caspase-3, Fas/Fas-L and Bcl-2 with elevated levels, and the adaptor protein primarily regulated signaling through Fas and required for Fas-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, ascorbic acid combined with thiamine exhibited protective effect on reproductive system by inhibiting Pb-induced excessive cell apoptosis.
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