Protective Effect of L-Carnitine on the Testis and Epididymis Against Ornidazole-Induced Injury in Male Rats

SHANG Xue-jun; LIU Qing-zhen; KANG Ning; HUANG Yu-feng

Abstract：Objective:To investigate the protective effect of L-carnitine on the testis and epididymis against ornidazole(ORN)-in-duced injury in male rats.Methods:Forty male SD rats weithing 200-230 g were randomly divided into 5 groups,Group A treated with 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,and Groups B,C,D and E with ORN at the daily dose of 400 mg/kg,800 mg/kg,400mg/kg plus LC 100 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg plus LC 100 mg/kg,respectively,all by oral gavage for 20 days continuously.Twenty-four hours after the last administration,all the rats were put to death,their testes and epididymides harvested,weighed and subjected to HE staining.The indexes of the testes and epididymides were obtained and their histopathological changes observed. Results:Compared with Group A,Groups B and C showed significant decreases in the indexes of the testis and epididymis(P<0.05 and P<0.01),while Group D exhibited no difference and Group E extremely significant difference(P<0.01).HE staining revealed that the sper-matogenic cells at all levels of testicular seminiferous tubules were neatly arranged in Group B,caducous in some seminiferous tubules,with decreased number of sperm and sporadic spermatogenic cells in the epididymal duct.Necrotic and caducous spermatogenic cells were observed in the seminiferous tubules of Group C,with significantly decreased number of sperm and lots of non-sperm cell compo-nents in the epididymal duct.No obvious changes were found in the testicular seminiferous tubules,nor evident reduction in the num-ber of sperm in the epididymal duct of Group D.Group E showed decreased number of sperm in the testicular seminiferous tubules,necrotic and caducous spermatogenic cells.obviously reduced number of sperm and a lot of non-sperm cell components in the epididy-mal duct.Conclusion:ORC can induce histopathological changes in the testis and epididymis of male rats,and L-carnitine plays a role in protecting the testis and epididymis from ORN-induced injury in male rats.