Effect of methoxychlor on antioxidant system of goat epididymal sperm in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of methoxychlor on the antioxidant system of goat epididymal sperm.


METHODS
Epididymis of adult goat was obtained from local slaughter houses and sperm were collected by chopping the epididymis in modified Ringer' s phosphate solution (RPS). After several washings, the sperm samples were dispersed in RPS and incubated with methoxychlor (1 micromol/L, 10 micromol/L and 100 micromol/L) and methoxychlor + vitamin C (100 micromol/L each) for 3 h at 32 degrees C. After incubation, the sperm motility and viability were assessed. An aliquot of sperm sample was homogenized, centrifuged and used for the assay of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and lipid peroxidation.


RESULTS
In methoxychlor-incubated sperm and in sperm co-incubated with methoxychlor and vitamin C, the sperm motility and viability showed no significant changes as compared to the corresponding controls. In methoxychlor-incubated sperm the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased while lipid peroxidation was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Co-incubation of sperm with methoxychlor and vitamin C showed no changes in the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase and in the level of lipid peroxidation.


CONCLUSIONS
Methoxychlor induced oxidative stress in epididymal sperm of goats by decreasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes. Co-incubation of sperm with methoxychlor and vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, reversed the effect of methoxychlor.
Gangadharan
B
B
School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, India.
Murugan
M A
MA
Mathur
P P
PP
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006041:Goats; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008731:Methoxychlor / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D007306:Insecticides; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D008731:Methoxychlor