title: Ameliorative potentials of quercetin against lead-induced hematological and testicular alterations in Albino rats.
abstract: Lead is one of the oldest environmental and occupational toxins. Health hazards from increased
  lead exposure as a result of industrial and environmental pollution are recognized. The aim of the present
  study was to investigate the protective effects of quercetin as a model of an antioxidant drug against
  the toxic effects of lead acetate on the blood and the testis of rats. The lead concentrations were determined in
  blood and the testis. Testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
  were assessed in serum. Hemoglobin (Hb) content, packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC)
  and red blood cell (RBC) counts were evaluated in the whole blood. Our results showed that administration of
  lead acetate was associated with an increased lead levels in blood as well as in the testis. Lead acetate
  administration also caused a decrease in testicular function, Hb content, PCV and RBC count in comparison to
  the respective mean values of the control. In addition, lead acetate increased WBC count and induced
  alterations in sperm count, sperm motility and sperm abnormality and histopathology. In the contrary,
  administration of lead acetate along with quercetin partially restored the studied parameters to normal values.
  In conclusion, the treatment with quercetin may provide a partial protection against the toxic effects
  induced by lead acetate in blood and the testis of rats.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsaa, King Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed A.
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Omair
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sedky
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Awatef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsaa, King Saudi Arabia.|Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elsawy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007854:Lead; D011794:Quercetin
keywords: blood; lead acetate toxicity; quercetin; testicular alteration