Antioxidant Role of Beta Carotene: Protection against Cadmium Induced Testicular Toxicity

system. The purpose of present study was to investigate the protective role of Beta caroteneon cadmium induced testicular damage. Materials and Methods: The present study wasconducted following approval from Institutional Bioethical Committee and strict internationallyaccepted guidelines, for the usage of animals in experimental study were. Rats weredivided into four groups with 8 rats in each.The Gr. I rats were administered with the singledose of normal saline intraperitoneally. Group II received Beta carotene (10 mg/kg bw) orallyfor 30 days. Group III received a single dose of 1 mg/kg bw cadmium chloride and Group IVreceived Beta carotene for 30 days prior to cadmium administration. After the desired protocol,rats were sacrificed and both the testes were removed for biochemical and histopathologicalevaluation. One testis was fixed in Bouvins fluid and processed or histopathological studies.The levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) and glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)were detected in the tissue homogenates of other testis. Results: In the present study, thelevel of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was significantly high and GSH and SOD (Pu003c0.001) werelow in cadmium treated rats compared to normal control. Pre-treatment with beta caroteneshowed a protective effect by decreasing LPO and increasing GS Hand SOD level (Pu003c0.001).The morphological changes like atrophy of tubules, edema and decreased spermatogenesisin the testis of rats exposed to cadmium chloride. But, antioxidant showed the normal architectureof the testis. Conclusion: Results of the present study showed the antioxidative roleof beta carotene in protecting the testis from cadmium induced toxicity.