The ameliorative effects of DMSA and some vitamins against toxicity induced by lead in the testes of albino rats. II

Lead is a poison that affects virtually every system in the body. The current study was planned to examine the toxic effects of lead acetate on the histological picture of testes, and the protective roles of DMSA, combined vitamins C and E, and DMSA combined with vitamin C plus vitamin E against the histopathological changes in the testes of albino rats induced by lead acetate. Oral administration of lead acetate caused necrosis of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules, congestion of interstitial blood vessels, severe interstitial edema and complete necrosis in the seminiferous tubules. Co-administration of DMSA with lead acetate minimized the histopathological changes exhibited by lead acetate in the affected organ compared with lead acetate-intoxicated rats. Lead acetate combined with vitamin C plus vitamin E supplemented rats showed mild congestion of the interstitial blood vessels and the seminiferous tubules with its components appeared normal compared to DMSA treated rats. Treatment with DMSA combined with vitamin C plus vitamin E showed more or less normal histological appearance of the testes in lead acetate induced histopathological changes in the affected organ. These results show that DMSA, as a chelating agent for lead, and the combination of vitamins C and E as antioxidants reduced the toxic effects of lead on the histological structure of testes in albino rats but did not provide complete protection. Whereas, the supplementation of DMSA combined with both vitamins C and E provide complete protection against toxicity induced by lead in the testes of albino rats.