Pesticides may induce oxidative stress leading to generate free radicals and alternate antioxidant or oxygen free radical scavenging enzyme system. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the oral toxicity of chlorpyrifos toward male rat and the oxidative stress of the sub-lethal dose (1/25 LD50) on the lipid peroxidation level (LPO), reduced glutathione content (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities. Also, the protective effects of propolis (50 mg/kg body weight, BW) alone or in combination with chlorpyrifos were investigated. The oral administration of 9 mg/kg chlorpyrifos significantly caused elevation in LPO level. The activities of antioxidant enzymes including CAT, SOD, GPx and GST were decreased significantly as well as the level of GSH in testicular tissue. Co-administration of propolis with chlorpyrifos or alone in male rats decreased LPO level, normalized CAT, SOD GPx and GST activities, while GSH content increased in testicular tissue. In conclusion, propolis significantly reduces chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress in rats testes and the protective effect of the pre-treatment with propolis could be due to its antioxidant properties.
Key words: Chlorpyrifos; Propolis; Fertility; lipid peroxidation; antioxidant enzymes
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