COMPARISON OF HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE TESTIS OF IMMATURE AND ADULT RATS

1. The acute effect of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) administration (i.p .) on testicular antioxidant system and lipid peroxidation (LPX) in im mature and mature rats (15- and 90-day-old, respectively) were compare d. 2. In both the age groups, the level of LPX in crude homogenate of testis (endogenous, as well as FeSO4, and ascorbic acid-stimulated) wa s increased after 6 hr of HCH treatment and remained high till 24 hr. However, FeSO4 and ascorbic acid-stimulated LPX was higher in 90-day-o ld rats in comparison to 15-day-old rats. HCH treatment also resulted in elevation of LPX level in testicular subcellular (nuclear, mitochon drial, and microsomal) fractions by 6 hr of treatment. However, the ma gnitude of increase was greater in case of 90-day-old rats.3. Activiti es of testicular cytosolic superoxide dismutases (total and CN--resist ant) of rats of 15- and 90-day-old age groups decreased significantly after 6 hr of HCH treatment, and remained decreased till 24 hr of the pesticide treatment. The percentage of decrease was higher in 15-day-o ld rats than 90-day-old rats. CN--sensitive SOD activity of testis was found to decrease by 12 and 24 hr after the pesticide treatment in 15 - and 90-day-old rats, respectively. The activity of catalase decrease d 4 hr after the pesticide treatment in both the age groups. However, the magnitude of decrease was similar for both age groups of rats. 4. Testicular glutathione content, as well as levels of glutathione metab olizing enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase), di d not change in response to HCH treatment, whereas ascorbic acid conte nt decreased by 12 and 6 hr after HCH treatment in 15- and 90-day-old rats, respectively. The level of H2O2 was found to be elevated after 6 hr of the pesticide treatment in both age groups. 5. Total epididymal sperm number was comparable in all experimental groups. However, the percentage of dead and damaged spermatozoa was significantly enhanced in HCH treated rats. 6. Acute HCH administration to rats results in in duction of oxidative stress in the testis which depends upon the of th e animal. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.