Objective To explore the effects of 2, 4-D butylate on testis oxidative damage and serum testosterone in male mice.
Methods Forty-eight healthy clean-grade ICR male mice were randomly divided into control (corn oil), low, middle, and high dose groups (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) by weight, twelve in each group. Oral gavage administration was conducted once a day and six days per week for consecutive five weeks. After 24 h of exposure, testosterone levels in serum was detected by radioimmunoassay; testis was weighed to calculate organ coefficient, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in testicular homogenate were measured by spectrophotometric assay.
Results After four weeks, the increased body weight was significantly decreased in the middle dose and the high dose groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05); after five weeks, the increased body weight was significantly decreased in the middle dose and the high dose group compared with the control and the low dose groups (P < 0.05). The organ coefficient of testis was gradually decreased as the exposure dose increased, and the difference was significant between the high dose group and the middle dose group or control group (P < 0.05). The activity of SOD was gradually decreased as the dose increased, and the difference between the experimental groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05); the content of MDA was gradually increased as the dose increased, and the difference between the high dose group and the control group was statistically significant (P < 0.05); the testosterone levels in serum were gradually decreased as the dose increased, those in the middle and high dose groups were significantly lower than those in the low dose group or the control group (P < 0.05), and significant difference was found between the high dose and the middle dose groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion The findings in dicate that 2, 4-D butylate could lead to oxidative damage in testis and lower testosterone levels in serum of male mice.
DownLoad: