Acute, subacute and subchronic administration of methyl parathion-induced testicular damage in male rats and protective role of vitamins C and E

Methyl parathion is an organophosphate insecticide that has been used in agriculture and domestic for several years. Vitamin C (200 mg/kg bw per day) + vitamin E (200 mg/kg bw per day), methyl parathion (0.28 mg/kg bw per day) and vitamin C (200 mg/kg bw per day) + vitamin E (200 mg/kg bw per day) + methyl parathion (0.28 mg/kg bw per day) combination were given to rats orally via gavage for 7 weeks. Body and testis weights, sperm counts, sperm motility, sperm morphology and histopathological changes in the testes were investigated at the end of 24 h, 4th and 7th weeks comparatively with control group. No pathological changes were observed in all parameters at the end of 24 h. When methyl parathion-treated group and vitamins C and E + methyl parathion-treated group were compared to control group, body and testis weights decreased significantly at the end of 4th and 7th weeks. It was observed that, at the end of 4th and 7th weeks there was a statistically significant decrease in sperm counts and sperm motility, increase in abnormal sperm morphology when methyl parathion- and vitamins C and E + methyl parathion-treated group were compared to control group. While sperm counts increased at the end of 4th and 7th weeks, sperm motility increased at the end of 7th week when vitamins C and E + methyl parathion-treated group compared with methyl parathion-treated group, no changes were observed in abnormal sperm morphology at the end of 4th and 7th weeks. In our light microscopic investigations, after 4 and 7 weeks of methyl parathion exposure, necrosis and edema were observed in the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues. After 4 and 7 weeks of vitamins C and E + methyl parathion exposure, degenerative changes were detected in the seminiferous tubules while no pathological findings were observed in the interstitial tissues. According to the present study, we conclude that vitamins C and E reduces methyl parathion testicular toxicity, but it does not protect completely.