P-220: Co-Administration of Testosterone and Vitamin E Inhibited The Atrazine-Induced Damages on Testis; Evidence for RNA Damage and Leydig Cells Steroidogenesis

Background: Atrazine (ATR), an herbicide, is used in order to control broadleaf and grassy weed. ATR has been estimated to impact the testicular tissue both by inhibiting the endocrine system and partly by reducing the antioxidant status. Thus, current study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin E and testosterone against ATR-induced damages in testicular tissue. Materials and Methods: Thirty Mature male rats were used. The test group subdivided into three (n=6) groups as; ATR-induced (200 mg/kg/day by gavages), ATR+testosterone (250 mg/kg per week, intraperitonealy), ATR+vitamin E (150 mg/kg, every 48 hours, by gavages) and ATR+testosterone+vitamin E. The control- sham animals received corn oil (0.2 mg/kg/day by gavages). The epi-fluorescent and fluorescent analyses were performed to examine the germinal cells RNA damage and leydig cells biosteroid activity. The leydig cells distribution in interstitial tissue, tissue total thiol molecules (TTM) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were estimated. Results: The testosterone and vitamin E-received animals were manifested with significantly (p<0.05) lowered RNA damage in germinal cells accomplished with remarkable increase in steroid synthesis of leydig cells. Moreover, co-administration of testosterone and vitamin E promoted the antioxidant status. Qua, the animals in these groups revealed with significant increase in TAC and TTM levels. Conclusion: Our data suggest that, the testosterone by promoting endocrine system both by protecting leydig cells and compensating the testosterone level and the vitamin E by up-regulating antioxidant status could protect germinal cells RNA content against ATR-induced damages.