Endocrine Abstracts

There is growing evidence that bisphenol A (BPA) may adversely affect humans. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that has been shown to be harmful in laboratory animal studies. A comprehensive literature search found 91 studies linking BPA to human health; 53 published within the last year. This body of literature is showing associations between BPA exposure and adverse perinatal, childhood, and adult health outcomes, including reproductive and developmental effects, metabolic disease, and other health effects. These studies encompass both prenatal and postnatal exposures, and include several study designs and population types. But until recently, there were relatively few studies examining the effect of BPA on sperm quality and the protective effects of antioxidants against its reproductive toxicity. Thus, present examination tries to assess powerful antioxidant garlic against BPA. Rats were assigned to one of four groups: 0 mg BPA and 0 g garlic/kg BW (control); 2 g garlic/kg BW; 40 mg BPA/kg BW; BPA plus garlic. Rats were orally administered their respective doses daily for 70 days. BPA caused deterioration in semen characteristics and histological changes in testes. Body weight, plasma acid phosphatase, LH and FSH were increased, while total proteins, testosterone and sex organ weights (testes, epididymis, prostates and seminal vesicles) were significantly decreased. BPA increased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and decreased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. Testicular 17-ketosteroid reductase, acid phosphatase and protein content were decreased, while 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was increased. Garlic alone reduced TBARS, induced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and improved semen characteristics. Administration of garlic with BPA intoxicated rats reduced the testicular toxic condition, morphological and biochemical changes were brought back to normal. In termination, antioxidant potential of garlic, ameliorates the changes that are induced by BPA.