Ebselen (EBS) is a versatile compound that can protect the cellular components from oxidative and free radical-mediated damage. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of EBS against manganese (Mn) toxicity on male reproductive organs. Thirty-two male rats were assigned into four groups, namely, negative control, EBS (15 mg/kg body weight (bw), as a single protective IP injection), MnCl2 (50 mg/kg bw, orally for 30 consecutive days), and EBS + MnCl2 (as mentioned before). The results showed that EBS ameliorated the alterations caused by MnCl2 in the testicular, epididymal, and seminal vesicle tissues. MnCl2 increased the sperm abnormalities, decreased gonadosomatic index (GSI), sperm motility, and sperm count. Further, it reduced the serum levels of testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and 8-OH-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and decreased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) upon exposure to MnCl2 indicated a disturbance in the activities of the testicular antioxidant enzymes and indices. Histologically, MnCl2 decreased the diameter of seminiferous tubules (ST), the height of germinal epithelium, number of spermatogonia/ST, spermatocytes/ST, spermatids/ST, and Leydig cells/intertubular area (IA). Chemoprotection with EBS successfully mitigated most of the above-mentioned parameters concluding that EBS could be used as a useful prophylactic therapy whenever Mn toxicity is involved.
Keywords: Ebselen; Manganese; Rat; Seminal vesicle; Testis; Toxicity.
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