Abstract

VITAMIN C AND HESPERIDIN ATTENUATE DELTAMETHRIN – INDUCED GENOTOXICITY, SPERM ABNORMALITIES AND BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN RATS.

Fatma E. Agha, Amira Abdel Raouf* and Amal A. M. Ahmed

Abstract

The current study was performed to investigate the protective effect of Vitamin C and Hesperidin against genotoxicity, sperm abnormalities and biochemical toxicity induced by deltamethrin (DLM). Thirty six male albino rats were divided into six groups (6 rats each): Group I, used as control, group II received Vitamin C (20mg/kg b.wt), group III received hesperidin (50 mg/kg b.wt), group IV received deltamethrin (0.26 mg/kg b.wt.), group V received Vitamin C followed by deltamethrin and VI received hesperidin followed by deltamethrin with the same doses which are mentioned before orally by gavages for 60 days. DLM caused a significant enhancement in the frequencies of different types of chromosomal aberrations in bone-marrow cells and spermatocytes with significantly inhibited of mitotic index compared to control. While, when rats were treated with vitamin C or hesperidin prior to deltamethrin, the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations were dramatically reduced and recovered the mitotic activity compared to deltamethrin treated group. DLM caused a significant reduction in sperm count, serum testosterone level, activities of brain cholinesterase, and DNA & RNA contents in testes also; DLMtreated group showed a significant increase in sperm abnormalities. However, concurrent administrations of vitamin C or hesperidin with deltamethrin caused significant improvement in all parameters which were studied. Results indicate that DLM exerts significant harmful effects on chromosome and male reproductive system and that the concurrent administration of vitamin C or hesperidin reduced the detrimental effects of DLM on male fertility.

Keywords: Deltamethrin; Chromosomal aberration; Reproductive toxicity; Male rats; Vitamin C; Hespridin.