Involvement of non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses in the protective effect of diphenyl diselenide on testicular damage induced by cadmium in mice

The involvement of non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses in the protective effect of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 on testicular damage caused by cadmium in mice was investigated. Mice received a single dose of CdCl2 (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Thirty minutes after the CdCl2 injection, they received a single oral dose of (PhSe)2 (400 μmol/kg). Twenty-four hours after CdCl2 administration, blood samples were collected and mice were killed and had their testes dissected. Parameters in plasma (aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferases and lactato dehydrogenase (LDH) activities as well as creatinine levels) were determined. The activity of δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), ascorbic acid and nonprotein thiols (NPSH) and histological analysis were determined in collected samples. Results demonstrated that (PhSe)2 protected against toxicity induced by CdCl2 on δ-ALA-D activity, ascorbic acid and NPSH levels. (PhSe)2 protected against the increase in plasma AST, ALT and LDH activities caused by CdCl2. Testes of mice exposed to CdCl2 showed marked histopathological alterations that were ameliorated by administration of (PhSe)2. (PhSe)2 protected against toxicity induced by CdCl2 in testes of mice. Ascorbic acid and NPSH, non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses, are involved in the protective effect of (PhSe)2 against testicular damage caused by CdCl2 in mice.