Evaluation of the effects of ascorbic acid on azathioprine-induced alteration in the testes of adult Wistar rats

ONANUGA, Ismail Olasile and IBRAHIM, Ridwan Babatunde and AMIN, Abdulbasit and AKINOLA, Oluwole Busayo and OMOTOSO, Gabriel Olaiya and OGUNDELE, Michael Olalekan and TAGOE, Cliff Nii Boi (2014) Evaluation of the effects of ascorbic acid on azathioprine-induced alteration in the testes of adult Wistar rats. International Journal Biological Chemical Sciences, 8 (2). pp. 1-8. ISSN 1991-8631

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Abstract

The use of azathioprine (AZA) in the prevention of organ rejection during transplantation has been noted in different organs of the body. This study investigates the effect of ascorbic acid on azathioprineinduced alteration in the testes of adult Wistar rats. Thirty male adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 5 groups comprising a Control group A and four Treatment groups B to E. Animals in treatment groups B and D received 10 and 20 mg/kg of AZA respectively; whilerats in treatment groups C received 10 mg/kg AZA +25 mg/kg ascorbic acid, and group E received 20 mg/kg of AZA + 50 mg/kg of ascorbic acid. The control group animals received equal volume of normal saline via orogastric tube, and treatment lasted for 21 days. The testes were excised, weighed and fixed in Bouins’ fluid fortissue histology. Tissue homogenate was used to assay testosterone level, while blood was also obtained intracardially for glutathione peroxidase studies. Findings revealed significant histological changes in the treatment groups, decreased testosterone levels, and elevated glutathione peroxidase activity in all the treatment groups, compared with control. However, the treatment groups that received ascorbic acid had minimal, butsignificant reduction in the glutathione peroxidase activity compared to treatment groups without ascorbic acid intervention. Use of azathioprine induces significant damage to testicular structure, and this cannot be ameliorated by the use of ascorbic acid.

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