Ameliorative effect of selenium on carbendazim induced oral sub-chronic testicular toxicity in bucks

In the present investigation, ameliorative effect of selenium (Se), an antioxidant, on oral sub chronic toxicity of carbendazim (CBZ) was assessed by studying various indices of antioxidant defense system. Goat bucks were randomly divided into four groups of four animals each. Group I served as control, Group II was orally administered carbendazim at the dose rate of 50 mg/kg, Group III was orally administered selenium in the form of sodium selenite at the dose rate of 0.05 mg/kg and Group IV was orally administered carbendazim along with selenium at same dose rates for 90 consecutive days. Prolonged administration of carbendazim produced oxidative stress as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The co-administration of selenium with carbendazim produced less marked alterations in the indices of antioxidant status. Carbendazim resulted in significant alteration in sperm count, live sperm percent and also produced sperm abnormalities. Carbendazim co-administered with selenium lead to partial restoration of sperm count and live sperm per cent and resulted in diminished sperm abnormalities. Carbendazim produced anti-androgenic effect as depicted by significant decrease in testosterone level. On the contrary, bucks co-administered with carbendazim and selenium resulted in partial restoration of testosterone level. Thus, from the findings of present investigation it can be concluded that carbendazim leads to testicular oxidative stress as well as antiandrogenic effect and selenium supplementation partially protect from carbendazim induced testicular toxicity.