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Selenium and L-Carnitine Ameliorate Reproductive Toxicity Induced by Cadmium in Male Mice

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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) has been reported to reduce male fertility, impair reproductive capacity, and play a major role in the pathogenesis of infertility. This study was conducted to investigate the possible protective role of Selenium (Se) and L-carnitine (LC) against the adverse effects induced by Cd on the male reproductive system in mice. Animals were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 10); control group and six treated groups, as follows: Cd (0.35 mg/kg), Se (0.87 mg/kg), LC (10 mg/kg), and a combination of either Se or LC and then a combination of both with Cd, and all animals were injected for a period of 30 days. Exposure of Cd showed a significant decrease in enzymatic antioxidant activities, deficiency in reproductive performance, decrease serum testosterone level, severe changes in the histopathological architecture, and higher degree of damages and appearance of unblemished DNA strands. Treatment with Se and LC has the highly synergistic and ameliorates the damaging effect of Cd on the testis through the elevation of the enzymatic antioxidant and diminish histopathological abnormalities and DNA damage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Wed A. Alharthi & Reham Z. Hamza

  2. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagzig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Reham Z. Hamza

  3. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12316, Egypt

    Magda M. Elmahdi, Helal S. H. Abuelzahab & Hanan Saleh

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  1. Wed A. Alharthi
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  2. Reham Z. Hamza
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Alharthi, W.A., Hamza, R.Z., Elmahdi, M.M. et al. Selenium and L-Carnitine Ameliorate Reproductive Toxicity Induced by Cadmium in Male Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 197, 619–627 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-02016-7

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