Grape seed extract alleviate reproductive toxicity caused by aluminium chloride in male rats

Natural dietary antioxidants are studied for their ability to protect cells from miscellaneous damage. Grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera L., Vitacease) is a potent antioxidant. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of grape seed extract (GSE) against the possible testicular dysfunction caused by aluminium chloride (AlCl3) in male rats. Twenty sexually mature male albino rats were divided into four equal groups, the first served as negative control, the second received AlCl3 (20 mg/kg bw, 1/ 20 LD 50), the third administered GSE (75 mg/kg bw), and the fourth received AlCl3 and treated with GSE. Doses were given once daily via gavage for 70 consecutive days. The results revealed that, AlCl3 induced significant decrease in final body weight, sex organs relative weight, sperm concentration, motility and viability, serum testosterone concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, with significant increase in sperm abnormalities and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations. Moreover, AlCl3 induced apparent alteration in the histological structure of the testis. Treatment with GSE ameliorated the harmful effects of AlCl3, this was also proved histopathologically by the noticeable improvement in the testis tissues. It may be concluded that GSE may be promising as a natural therapeutic agent in AlCl3-induced reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress in the male rat testes. Hala, A.H. Khattab, Inas, Z.A. Abdallah and Gehan, M. Kamel. Grape seed extract alleviate reproductive toxicity caused by aluminium chloride in male rats. Journal of American Science 2010;6(12):1200-1209]. (ISSN: 15451003). http://www.americanscience.org.