Antioxidant enzyme level in the testes of cirrhotic rats.
OBJECTIVE
An understanding of the tissue and organ level of antioxidant enzymes that scavenge reactive oxygen species may provide an indication of their susceptibility to free radical-related cytotoxic damage. A direct association between testicular production of excessive reactive oxygen species and male infertility has been noted. We measured the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the testes of thioacetamide-induced cirrhotic rats.


METHODS
Antioxidant enzyme activities and trace element levels (copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium) in the testes of thioacetamide-induced cirrhotic and control rats were measured. The statistical difference between the experimental and control groups with regard to the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and levels of trace elements was analyzed with Student's t test.


RESULTS
Our results showed a significant decrease in the activity of these enzymes in the testes of cirrhotic rats. The testicular levels of copper, zinc, and manganese, which are associated with these antioxidant enzymes, increased, whereas selenium decreased slightly in cirrhotic rats; that decrease was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Our studies showed a drastic decrease in the level of antioxidant enzymes in the testes of cirrhotic rats that could have deleterious effects on sperm function in these animals. Further studies are necessary to understand the exact pathways of trace element metabolism in the testes of cirrhotic rats.
Abul
Habib T
HT
Department of Pharmacology, Kuwait University Health Sciences Center, Safat, Kuwait.
Mathew
T Chacko
TC
Abul
Fawzi
F
Al-Sayer
Hilal
H
Dashti
Hussein M
HM
D000818:Animals; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014131:Trace Elements; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase