application of sodium arsenite to mice testicular and epididymal organ cultures induces oxidative, biochemical, hormonal, and genotoxic stress.

Arsenic poisoning is well-known for its innumerable toxic and carcinogenic effects. data on reproductive toxicity are also known but data are scant. Presently, we evaluated the toxic effects of sodium arsenite (NaAsO) on adult mice testes and epididymal tissues using organ cultures. Testicular and epididymal fragments were incubated at 37°C and 33°C, respectively, with 1, 10, 50, and 100 µM concentrations of NaAsO. Cultures were allowed to incubate for 2 and 24 h. Levels of oxidative stress markers, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay (TBARS), antioxidant enzymes, testosterone concentrations, and the extent of sperm DNA damage, were estimated. Results were analyzed statistically at < 0.05. Results demonstrated both time- and dose-dependent alterations whereby, following 24-h incubation with NaAsO, substantial increases were noticeable in ROS and TBARS levels and sperm DNA damage ( < 0.001), while decreases ( < 0.001) occurred in catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase levels at 10, 50, and 100 µM concentrations. Incubations for 2 h revealed similar but relatively less toxic effects. Testosterone concentrations decreased significantly only after 24 h of incubation with 50 (1.95 vs. 2.93 ng g; < 0.01) and 100 µM (1.32 vs. 2.93 ng g; < 0.001) NaAsO concentrations. The study concluded that exposure of testicular and epididymal tissue fragments to arsenic under conditions induces rapid and immediate metabolic and genotoxic damage at higher concentrations.