MODULATORY INFLUENCE OF ALOE VERA AGAINST RADIATION AND CADMIUM INDUCED QUANTITATIVE CHANGES IN THE TESTICULAR CELLS OF MICE
Purkharam, Aruna Chakrawarti, Manisha Agarwal and R. K. Purohit*
ABSTRACT
The threat of accidental or hostile exposure to radiation and heavy
metal is of great concern. Ionizing radiation inflicts its adverse effect
through the generation of oxidative stress that unleash large scale
destruction or damage of various biomolecules. Disorders of
reproduction and hazards to reproductive health have become
prominent issues in recent past after several reports of adverse effects
of ionizing radiation on reproductive function. In view of the fact, the
present study was planned to evaluate the protective efficacy of Aloe
vera against radiation and cadmium induced quantitative changes in
the testicular cells of mice. For the study, the Swiss albino mice were
exposed to 3.5 or 7.0 Gy of gamma radiation with or without cadmium
chloride treatment. The Aloe vera was administered seven days prior to radiation or cadmium
chloride treatment in the experimental animals. Alterations in the population dynamics of
germinal epithelium were studied quantitatively. Spermatogonia A, I and B, primary
spermatocytes at various stages of their meiotic prophase and spermatids were counted from
the transverse sections of the testis from each set of experiments. The cells were counted in
the form of increase or decrease. The changes were more found more severe after combined
treatment of radiation and cadmium chloride as compared to their individual treatment. An
early and fast recovery in the Aloe vera pre treated groups showing the protective potential of
Aloe vera.
Keywords: Gamma Radiation, Cadmium Chloride, Swiss Albino Mice, Aloe Vera, Testes.
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