4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide disrupts sperm characteristics, endocrine balance and redox status in testes and epididymis of rats

Figures & data

Table 1. Body weight gain and organo-somatic indices (OSI) of the testes and epididymis in rats exposed to VCD for 28 consecutive days.

	Control	100 mg/kg VCD	250 mg/kg VCD	500 mg/kg VCD
Body weight gain (g)	53.76 ± 2.95	42.41 ± 3.08^a	40.6 ± 2.24^a	33.5 ± 2.08^a
Testes weight (g)	2.13 ± 0.02	2.02 ± 0.03	1.85 ± 0.04^a	1.79 ± 0.03^a
Epididymis weight (g)	0.29 ± 0.04	0.25 ± 0.07^a	0.19 ± 0.03^a	0.16 ± 0.05^a
OSI of testes	1.11 ± 0.05	1.09 ± 0.04^a	1.05 ± 0.03^a	1.01 ± 0.04^a
OSI of epididymis	0.15 ± 0.01	0.12 ± 0.02^a	0.11 ± 0.03^a	0.11 ± 0.01^a

Data are expressed as mean ± SD for 10 rats per group. ^aP < 0.05 versus Control.

Figure 1. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in testes and epididymis following 28 consecutive days of VCD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10 rats. ^aP < 0.05 versus Control.

Figure 2. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in testes and epididymis following 28 consecutive days of VCD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10 rats. ^aP < 0.05 versus Control.

Figure 3. Glutathione (GSH), hydrogen peroxide production (H₂O₂) and lipid peroxidation levels in testes and epididymis following 28 consecutive days of VCD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10rats. ^aP < 0.05 versus Control.

Figure 4. Epididymal sperm motility, count, viability and abnormalities in experimental rats following 28 consecutive days of VCD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10 rats. ^aP < 0.05 versus Control.

Figure 5. Testicular sperm number and daily sperm production in experimental rats following 28 consecutive days of VCD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10 rats. ^aP < 0.05 versus Control.

Figure 6. Circulatory concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone in experimental rats following 28 consecutive days of VCD treatment in rats. Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10 rats. ^aP < 0.05 versus Control.

Figure 7. Representative photomicrographs of testes and epididymis from control and VCD-treated rats. Control testes (A1) and epididymis (A2) showed normal morphology. Treatment-related lesions such as mild congestion, edema and reduced sperm numbers in the testes of 100 mg/kg VCD-treated rats (B1) whereas 250 and 500 mg/kg VCD-treated rats showed marked degeneration of the seminiferous tubules (C1 and D1). Epididymis of 100 and 250 mg/kg VCD-treated rats showed lumen with few viable sperm cells (B2 and C2) whereas 500 mg/kg VCD-treated rats showed reduced epithelia layer integrity with some empty lumen (D2).

Figure 8. Testes histopathology guide showing the influence of VCD on COX-2 and iNOS expression in control and treated rats. Percentage of positive cells is presented in the graphs (e and f). Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10 rats per group. ^aValues differ significantly from control (P < 0.05).

Figure 9. Testes histopathology guide showing the influence of VCD on caspase-9 and caspase-3 expression in control and treated rats. Percentage of positive cells is presented in the graphs (e and f). Each bar represents mean ± SD of 10 rats per group. ^aValues differ significantly from control (P < 0.05).