Original articleAmeliorating effects of green tea extract on cadmium induced reproductive injury in male Wistar rats with respect to androgen receptors and caspase- 3

Cadmium is one of the potent environmental endocrine disruptors that has adverse effects on male fertility. This study was conducted to investigate the protective role of green tea extract (GTE) on cadmium chloride (CdCl2) induced reproductive toxicities in male Wistar rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided to 4 groups, each one contained 9 rats. Control group, they were gavaged distilled water, meanwhile the treated groups gavaged CdCl2 (3 mg/kg), GTE (70 mg/kg) and CdCl2 + GTE (3 mg/kg and 70 mg/kg) for 63 days. In GTE+ CdCl2 treated rats, the final body weight, relative testicular weight, epididymal weight, seminal and prostate glands weights were significantly (P < 0.05) increased compared to CdCl2 intoxicated rats. Sperm cell concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in CdCl2 + GTE group, while sperm morphological abnormalities were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased than CdCl2 group. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were elevated significantly (P < 0.05) in CdCl2 + GTE group, meanwhile catalase activity was significantly (P < 0.05) declined than CdCl2 group. Hypercholesterolemia was observed in CdCl2 group than control one while GTE+CdCl2 group revealed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in cholesterol level than CdCl2 treated group. Testicular androgen receptors and caspase-3 protein expression showed marked reduction and increase (P < 0.05) in CdCl2 group than control, respectively. Treatment with GTE with CdCl2 significantly (P < 0.05) increased androgen receptors, while decreased caspase-3 protein than CdCl2 group. In conclusion, GTE exhibited protective effect on testes by inhibiting CdCl2 induced oxidative damage and cellular apoptosis.