Aim: To find out whether the response of testicular oxidative stress parameters to hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is species specific. Methods: In rats and mice (n=5 in each group), HCH was administered at a dose of 20 mgkg-1day-1 intraperitoneally for 30 days in 0.1 mL of refined groundnut oil. The control groups received equal volume of the vehicle. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last injection and various oxidative stress parameters were measured immediately. Results: The level of both endogenous as well as FeSO4 and ascorbic acid-stimulated lipid peroxidation was increased significantly in the HCH-treated rats, whereas the pattern was just the reverse in case of mice. Although the level of H2O2 content increased in response to HCH in both groups, a totally different trend was observed for the activity of the principal H2O2-metabolising enzyme, catalase. In case of rats, a significant decline in the activity of catalase was recorded in response to HCH whereas a sharp augmentation in the enzyme activity was noticed in mice. Similarly, the decreased activity of superoxide dismutase observed in rats remained unaltered in mice. Conclusion: HCH induces oxidative stress in the testis of both rats and mice. However, the pattern of response of testicular oxidative stress parameters seems to be species specific.

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