Lipopolisaccharide (LPS)- induced testicular cytotoxicity and protective role of vitamin E and sodium selenite in rats

In our study, male Wistar rats weighing 300-320 g were used. Experimental animals were divided into 8 groups, 7 in each group: control group, vitamin E (VE)-treated group (200 mg/kg), sodium selenite (SS)-treated group (0.35 mg/kg), VE + SS-treated group (200 + 0.35 mg/kg), LPS treated group (10 mg/kg), LPS + VE-treated group (10 + 200 mg/kg), LPS + SS-treated group (10 + 0.35 mg/kg) and LPS + SS + VE-treated group (10 + 0.35 + 200 mg/kg). Malondialdehyde (MDA) amount for determination of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) antioxidant enzyme levels were evaluated. DNA damage was determined by the comet test. Testicular tissue was stained with hematoxylin/eosin for histological changes and examined under a light microscope. Antioxidant enzyme activities were decreased in the LPS treated group compared to the control group; histological changes and MDA level increased. LPS+VE and LPS+SS applied groups were observed to have less pathological conditions when compared to the LPS applied group alone. When the LPS+SS+VE group was compared with the other groups, there was a statistically significant decrease in MDA levels, an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities and a decrease in DNA damage. As a result, it has been determined that the combined use of SS and VE is more protective against LPS than their use alone. KEYWORDS: Lipopolysaccharide, Vitamin E, Sodium Selenite, Antioxidant enzyme