Protective effects of Vitamin E on CCl₄-induced testicular toxicity in male rats

The increased generation of free radicals plays an important role in testicular damage. The present study aimed to investigate the adverse effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) on the reproductive system of male rats as well as to examine whether Vitamin E (VE) is able to ameliorate these effects. The rats were equally divided into three groups: control, CCl₄-treated, and CCl₄ + VE-treated groups. After 4 weeks of treatment, the decrease in body and testes weights, sperm parameters, and the decrease in serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone of CCl₄-treated rats were ameliorated by VE treatment. The co-administration of VE with CCl₄ significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxidation production (malondialdehyde) and increased the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) when compared with the CCl₄ group. Moreover, VE prevented CCl₄-induced severe testicular histopathological lesions and deformities in spermatogenesis. The results demonstrate that VE augments the anti-oxidants' defense mechanism against CCl₄-induced reproductive toxicity suggesting a therapeutic role in free radical-mediated infertility.