Influence of sodium benzoate in lipopolysaccharide-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats

This study assessed the possible aggravation of testicular toxicity by sodium benzoate (NaB) in male Wistar rats infected by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sexually matured rats were randomly grouped into four treatment groups (n = 7) and administered the appropriate regimen: control (dispensed 1 ml of distilled water as vehicle, group A), NaB-administered (received 600 mg/kg body weight of NaB for 14 days, group B), LPS- and NaB- administered (250 mu L/kg body weight of LPS for 7 days before co-administration with 600 mg/kg body weight of NaB from 8 to 14th day, group C), LPS- administered (received 1 ml of distilled water for 7 days before administration of 250 mu L/kg body weight of LPS from 8 to 14th day, group D). LPS or NaB and their combined administration reduced the total sperm count, sperm viability, sperm motility, testes-body weight, and levels/activities of catalase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, reduced glutathione but elevated (p < 0.05) the abnormal sperm cells and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) degree in comparison with the control. The trend analysis of the combined administration of LPS and NaB also demonstrated a more remarkable change in comparison to the LPS-alone or NaB-alone treated group. Furthermore, combined administration of LPS and NaB resulted in a conspicuous change in the histopathology in the testes of such rats compared to the NaB - or LPS-alone treated rats. Considered as a whole, NaB aggravated testicular toxicity in the condition of lipopolysaccharide infection by a mechanism associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation.