Vitamin C plays protective role against nicotine-induced histological damages on testis in wistar rats

Abstract

Consumption of nicotine has been increasing day-by-day. Nicotine is consid-ered to cause dangerous effects and these symptoms are mostly seen in youths. Nicotine affects the lungs, the heart, the liver, the reproductive sys-tem and other organs in the body, and it is connected with lung cancer as documented by many researchers. The present study evaluated the protec-tive role of vitamin C against the tissue damages caused by nicotine in the rat testis. Four groups each with 6 rats were prepared G1: Control group re-ceived normal saline. G2: Nicotine group rats received 1.0 mg/kg of nicotine. G3: Vitamin C group rats received (200 mg/kg bw, once/day in water). G4: Vitamin C + Nicotine group animals received 1.0 mg/kg of nicotine and 200 mg/kg of Vitamin C. Administration of nicotine alone witnessed adverse effects and damage to the histopathological attributes of the testis, mostly seminiferous tubules were found deformed and showing basal vacuolation or massive degeneration and loss of germ cells, wide interstitial spaces with vascular congestion. On the other hand, the administration of vitamin C alone or vitamin C + nicotine had no adverse effects and damage were seen on the histological structure of testis tissues. Vitamin C which is a non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules and widely available seems to ameliorate histopathological damages caused by nicotine on the rat testicular tissue.