Age-related changes in rat testicular oxidative stress parameters by hexachlorocyclohexane

Effect of repeated oral administration of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH; 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight per day for 7, 15 and 30 days) on antioxidant defence system and lipid peroxidation (LPX) in the testis was compared between immature (15-day-old) and mature (90-day-old) rats. In both age-groups of rats, the pesticide elicited a significant decrease in the activities of cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD; total and CN(-)-resistant) and catalase, and ascorbic acid content together with an increase in the levels of LPX (both in crude homogenate and subcellular fractions) and H2O2. Testicular glutathione peroxidase (GPx; total and non-selenium-dependent) activity was enhanced in both the age-groups of rats while the testicular glutathione content as well as glutathione reductase activity remained unaltered. HCH treatment resulted in a decrease of total epididymal sperm number with a higher incidence of dead and damaged spermatozoa, and sperms having anomalous head. Statistical analyses suggest that the alterations in the testicular antioxidant defence profile in the rat are not only dependent on the duration of pesticide treatment, but also influenced by age.