Histopathological evaluation of supportive effect of vitamin C on testes following long-term administration of copper sulfate in mice

Abstract

Ehsanollah Sakhaee, Jalil Abshenas, Reza Kheirandish,Omid Azari, Arefeh Karamshahi

This study was set to investigate whether the adverse effects of long-term copper (Cu) consumption on testicular tissue could be prevented by vitamin C administration. Thirty-six sexually mature male NMRI mice were randomly divided into three groups of 12 animals. The first group (group Cu) which is treated by gavage with copper sulfate at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day (0.2 ml) and 0.1 ml of distilled water via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection daily for 6 weeks, the treatment group (group Cu + Vit.C) which is treated by gavage with copper sulfate at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day (0.2 ml) and received 10 mg/kg/day (0.1 ml) vitamin C by i.p. injection, and the control group which received the same volume of distilled water by gavage and i.p. injection during the experimental period. Shrinkage and collapse of tubules, decreased number of germinal cells and decrease in epithelial height were histopathologial lesions of testes of Cu group, while, treatment group showed normal morphology with presence of spermatozoa in their lumen. In conclusion, vitamin C can be one of the suitable choices for preventive therapeutic effects and/or improvement in testicular tissue after Cu toxicosis.