title: Effect of aflatoxins on testicular steroidogenesis and amelioration by vitamin E.
abstract: The potential of aflatoxin to affect testicular steroidogenesis and its amelioration by vitamin E was assessed in the present investigation. Oral administration of aflatoxin (25 and 50 microg/animal/day) for 45 days to adult mice caused, as compared with control, a dose-dependent significant rise in cholesterol content. However, the activities of 3beta- and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and serum testosterone levels were significantly reduced in aflatoxin-treated mice as compared with the controls. Pretreatment with vitamin E (2 mg/animal/day, orally) significantly ameliorated aflatoxin-induced changes as compared with aflatoxin treatment alone. The present investigation clearly indicates that vitamin E ameliorates aflatoxin-induced changes in steroidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380009, India. zooldeptgu@satyam.net.in
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000737:chemistry; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D000975:Antioxidants; D002273:Carcinogens; D013256:Steroids; D014810:Vitamin E; D013739:Testosterone; D002784:Cholesterol; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases