title: Zinc, copper and hydrolytic enzymes in epididymis of hydrocortisone treated rat.
abstract: Administration of glucocorticoid (1, 2 and 4 mg) in excess leads to degeneration of epididymides as supported by cellular degeneration, sperm density and morphometric measurements. Zinc level increased statistically after 1, 2 and 4 mg hydrocortisone treatment while copper increased after 1 and 2 mg treatment. Cholesterol, protein and leucine aminopeptidase levels increased and decreased significantly in caput and cauda respectively. Activity of alkaline phosphatase reduced significantly while the treatment of hydrocortisone at different doses elevated acid phosphatase, aryl sulphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. Evidently, these changes are as a result of onset of cellular degeneration leading to impairment of metabolic/secretory activity of epididymal cells. The possible involvement of pituitary-testis axis in hydrocortisone induced epididymal degeneration and functional inhibition has been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bedwal
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mathur
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001192:Arylsulfatases / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000633:toxicity*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007931:Leucyl Aminopeptidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D001192:Arylsulfatases; D007931:Leucyl Aminopeptidase; D015032:Zinc; D006854:Hydrocortisone