P-106: Evaluatiny the Effectiveness of Vitamin C Protection on Testicular Germ Cell Apoptosis in Male Rat Treated with Formaldehyde

Background: Formaldehyde is associated with overproduction of endogenous opioids (EOP), nitric oxide (NO) and cytokins in the blood streams. These consequences can affect sex hormones. Since proper fertility will result physiological balance of sex hormones so that we investigated the relationship between Formaldehyde and sex hormones and apoptotic germ cells in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: To study, we used five groups of animals: (1) control; (2) FA treatment group 2-hour per day(FA2hours); (3) FA + Vc group 2-hour per day (FA2hours)+Vc. (4) FA 4-hour per day (FA4hours); and (5) FA+ Vc group 4-hour per day (FA2hours)+Vc. Treatment groups were exposed to FA by inhalation at a concentration of 10 mg/m3 for 18 weeks. In addition, FA+ Vc group were orally administered Vc during the 18-week FA treatment. After the treatment, all animal were killed by cervical dislocation, serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone were determined by Radioimmunoassay respectively. Apoptosis was evaluated by DNA fragmentation detected by in situ terminal deoxynucloetidyl Transfrase-mediated dUTP nike end labeling (TUNEL). Results: A significant reduced LH and testosterone in FA4hours group compared with those in the control group (p<0.05). There was not significant reduced FSH in FA group compared with control group. and not significant reduced FSH, LH and testosterone in FA+ Vc groups compared with control group. But Formaldehyde had no significant effect on apoptotic index germ cell testis (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings have shown Formaldehyde decreased the levels of serum gonadotropins but it has no significant effector on testicular germinal cells apoptosis. We suggest that testicular germinal cells apoptosis were not only dependent on gonadotropin hormones but also other factors may be involved.