P-47: The Protective Effects of Green Tea Extract on Lead-Induced Testicular Toxicity

Background: lead (Pb) is one of the most important environmental pollutants that affect the male reproductive system. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of green tea extract (GTE) against testes damage induced by Pb. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups (n= 10), as following: Control, GTE, Pb and Pb+GTE treated groups. Animals were given 100 g of GTE/ Kg Body weight/day (IP) in the GTE and Pb+GTE treated groups while the other group received normal saline. The Pb and Pb+GTE treated groups received 1% lead (II) acetate (LA) in drinking water. After 6 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and testes were removed for microscopic evaluations. Blood samples were collected for biochemical tests. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey posthoc tests (SPSS, p<0.05). Results: The current study showed marked morphological changes in the form of swelling, congestion, hemorrhage and necrosis in testes of mice treated with Pb alone. However, the mice treated with Pb+GTE showed milder edema, congestion and minute foci of necrosis in the testes. The results showed that lead caused a significant decrease in body and testicular weights, seminiferous tubules diameter and height, number of Leydig cells, plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and testosterone levels. Plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood Pb levels were significantly more in Pb treated group versus control. Co-administration of green tea with lead acetate significantly increased body and testicular weights, seminiferous tubules diameter and height, number of Leydig cells, plasma TAC and testosterone levels and decreased plasma MDA and blood Pb levels. There was no significant change in the number of Sertoli cells in Pb treated group in comparison with control group. Conclusion: Treatment of mice with GTE combined with Pb enhances antioxidant/ detoxification system which reduced reduced oxidative stress.