Vitamin C Reverses Endosulfan-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Prepubertal Male Rats: A Histopathological Study

Endosulfan causes male reproductive toxicity due to oxidative stress. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, reduces cellular oxidative stress. The present study was aimed to investigate protective effect of vitamin C against Endosulfan induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats

To investigate the protective effect of Vitamin C against endosulfan-induced testicular histopathological changes in male Wistar rats.

Seventy male neonatal Wistar rats were divided into seven groups. The group I was taken as the control group, The endosulfan-treated rats were grouped into II (3mg/kg body weight (BW) and group III (6 mg/kg BW), Group IV (9 mg/kg BW) and Group V (12 mg/kg BW). Group VI (9 mg/kg BW) and group VII (12 mg/kg BW) were pretreated with vitamin C (20 mg/kg BW) for 60 days. After 60 days, animals were sacrificed, testes were removed and processed for histopathological analysis.

Histopathological analysis of testes shows significant damage such as necrosis, decrease in spermatogenesis, and increase in congestion of the capillary system in endosulfan treated rats. Pretreatment with vitamin C with endosulfan treated group showed cytoprotective effect and marked reduced testicular changes.

Treatment with Vitamin C decreases the toxic effect of endosulfan on testes irrespective of dose. This protective effect of Vitamin C is probably due to its antioxidant property.