Ameliorating Effect of Ginger on Plasma Gonadotropin Hormones and Testosterone Hormones of Male Rats Exposed to Cadmium Toxicity

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ginger supplementation on plasma gonadotropin and steroid hormones of rats exposed to oxidative stress. In a completely randomized design, 16 newly weaned rats were randomly allocated to four treatments. Treatments were as: control, ginger (500 mg/kg body weight), Cadmium at 2 mg/kg body weight and combination of Cadmium and ginger gavaged for 30-day trial period. Rats were anesthetized with diethyl ether and the blood was collected from heart by heparinized tubes. Administration of Cadmium increased significantly malondialdehyde concentration. Ginger supplementation could not decrease malondialdehyde significantly, but its level was numerically lower than those received Cadmium. Rats received control or ginger alone had lower plasma malondialdehyde concentration compared to those received Cadmium and there was no difference between them for malondialdehyde concentration. The lowest concentration was for those exposed to Cadmium toxicity and the highest was for rats received ginger. Administration of ginger could not improve the concentration of FSH in rats exposed to Cadmium toxicity. The highest concentration of LH was found for rats received ginger and the lowest was for those exposed to Cadmium alone. Administration of ginger for rats exposed to Cadmium toxicity increased numerically LH concentration. Administration of Cadmium decreased testosterone concentration (P<0.05) compared to control group. Ginger supplementation had no effect (P<0.05) on testosterone concentration compared to control group. Administration of ginger to rats exposed to oxidative stress could not improve the concentration of testosterone compared to group received