Poonam Sharma
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, India
Title: Asteracantha longifolia ameliorated cypermethrin induced disruption in testosterone synthesis by upregulating pituitary-gonadal hormones and steroidogenic enzymes in male Wistar rats
Biography
Biography: Poonam Sharma
Abstract
Synthetic pyrethroids have emerged as a new class of pesticides/insecticides, showing high efficacy in a wide range of insects and pests, low toxicity to mammals and rapid biodegradability. Recently, these molecules have been listed as endocrine-disrupting compounds, posing a threat to humans. The present study was performed to assess the endocrine disrupting potential of cypermethrin (Cyp) and possible protective role of Asteracantha longifolia (AL) extracts. Cyp exposure decreased epididymal sperm count and sperm motility and increased sperm abnormalities. It also increased testicular lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione S transferase (GST) levels and decreased glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR). Testosterone (T), follicles stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and steroidogenic enzyme 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β HSD), 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β HSD) levels were also decreased. Histological findings also indicated that Cyp causes vacuolation in lumen and disorganization of Leydig and Sertoli cells. AL extracts successfully attenuated these adverse effects of Cyp and recovered the testicular architecture. The study suggested that AL ameliorated Cyp induced testicular possibly by enhancing antioxidant defense in testicular tissue and upregulating pituitary-gonadal hormones.