Potential protective role of β-cryptoxanthin against testicular oxidative stress induced by vinyl cyanide exposure in male rats

Abstract

Vinyl cyanide (VCN) is an aliphatic nitrile product which is extensively used in various synthetic chemical industries. VCN is known to exert toxic actions to human beings as well as experimental animals. The present study was designed to examine the ability of β-cryptoxanthin, a naturally occurring antioxidant, to attenuate VCN-induced testicular toxicity in adult albino rats. Daily oral administration of VCN at a dose level of 30 mg/kg b.w. (7.2mg/ animal) to male rats for a period of 5 days significantly decreased serum and testicular glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. While, VCN induced lipid peroxidation as indicated by markedly increased of malondialdehyde (MDA).  Compared to VCN-treated animals, pretreatment with β-cryptoxanthin and its co-administration with VCN once daily at a dose of 40 mg/kg b.w. (9.6mg/ animal) for 30 days mitigates serum and testicular GSH content, GST activity and MDA level. In conclusion, the present results clearly demonstrate the protective role of β-cryptoxanthin against VCN-induced oxidative stress in the rat testis.