Influence of lipoic acid on testicular toxicity induced by bi-n-butyl phthalate in rats

Bi-n-butyl phthalate (BNBP) is an environmental pollutant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of lipoic acid (LA) against testicular dysfunction associated with the intake of to BNBP- intoxicated rats. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each, and received medication orally for 14 days. Group I rats received 0.5 ml corn oil. Group II rats received LA (20 mg/kg B.W./day). Group III rats received BNBP (250 mg/kg B.W./day). Group IV rats received LA 24 h prior to BNBP intake. Testes weight, cauda sperm count and sperm motility were decreased significantly by 18.15%, 13.83% and 13.5%, respectively, after BNBP treatment. Significant increase by 12.1%, 10.20% and 11.51%, respectively, was observed in LA-BNBP rats. Significant increase by 1.53%, 1.5% and 1.8%, for serum follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone and total antioxidant status, respectively, were observed in LA-BNBP rats. Testicular lipid peroxides and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme were significantly decreased by 1.5 and 1.6 folds, respectively, in LA-BNBP rats were decreased after BNBP treatment. Testicular superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase enzymes were significantly increased in LA-BNBP rats. LA-BNBP rats, decreased the damage to seminiferous tubules produced by BNBP intake. In conclusion, LA mitigated BNBP-induced testicular toxicity through antioxidant mechanism and by direct free radical scavenging activity.