Aim: To evaluate the protective/ameliorative effects of vitamin E (vit E) on ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS)-induced testicular toxicity in rats.

Methods: The rats were assigned to eight groups, seven rats in each, and were injected intraperitoneally with vehicle, a single dose of ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) (75 mg/kg bodyweight), vit E (100 mg/kg bodyweight) or EDS + vit E for 3–7 days. Thereafter, the rats were weighed, anaesthetized with ether and killed by cervical dislocation. The left testis weights were recorded and the relative testis weights were calculated. The left testes were processed for routine paraffin embedding. Three right testes from each group were taken randomly and then processed for routine electron microscopy. Tissue sections were examined using light and electron microscopy, and were scored for histopathological changes.

Results: Vit E coadministration did not prevent the bodyweight loss on days 3 and 7. However, vit E administration prevented the EDS-induced testicular-weight loss in rats that received vit E for 3 days but not 7 days. The relative testis weight was higher on day 3 (instead of on day 7) than other groups. Nevertheless, the testis histology was not markedly protected by vit E in the EDS-treated rats. Detailed microscopic assessment showed few Leydig cells and abundant fibroblast-like cells indicating only some protection.

Conclusion: Vit E cotreatment showed partial protective effects on the testicular weight and testicular histology in rats that received EDS.

Keywords: vitamin E, ethane dimethane sulfonate, toxicity protection, testis, testicular toxicity, rats

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