# Protective effect of selenium and vitamin C on the fertility of male rats given penconazole

## TL;DR

This study shows that selenium and vitamin C can protect male rats' fertility from the harmful effects of penconazole, a toxic fungicide.

## Contribution

The novel finding is that selenium and vitamin C can mitigate penconazole-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

## Key findings

- Penconazole reduced serum LH, FSH, and testosterone levels in male rats.
- Selenium and vitamin C supplementation increased spermatogonia and primary spermatocyte counts in penconazole-treated rats.
- Gene expression of GPX4, AQP7, PRM2, and BAX was modulated by selenium or vitamin C in penconazole-exposed rats.

## Abstract

Penconazole is used in agriculture and human and veterinary medicine
applications. It has been included in the acute toxicity hazard category by
the WHO. This study examines the protective effect of selenium and vitamin C
on the fertility of male rats given penconazole.

Nine groups of rats were given penconazole at concentrations of 50 and 75
mg/ml and selenium and vitamin C at concentrations of 0.5 and 100 mg/ml,
respectively. Serum levels of LH and FSH were measured with ELISA kits;
β-actin, GPX4, AQP7, PRM2, and BAX gene expression was evaluated with
real-time PCR performed on the left testis of each rat.

LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were lower in the groups given penconazole
(50 and 75 mg/kg). Histopathology showed that the groups given penconazole
had the lowest number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes; these
numbers were greater in the groups receiving penconazole together with
selenium or vitamin C; and the highest counts were observed in separate
groups given Se and vitamin C. GPX4, AQP7, PRM2 and BAX gene expression in
the groups receiving penconazole was different from controls and was
modulated by treatment with selenium or vitamin C.

This study showed that antioxidant compounds have a strengthening effect on
the reproductive system and can mitigate the destructive effects of chemical
fungicides.