Molybdenum-Induced Oxidative Stress and Histopathological Alterations in the Epididymis

Abstract

Molybednum is one of the trace elements required for proper functioning of the human body. The present study was designed to assess the effects of molybdenum on accessory reproductive organ i.e. epididymis. Male Wistar rats were administered with three different doses of molybdenum (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight) for 60 days. A recovery study was also conducted in the highest dose group for which half the animals of the group were left untreated for the next 60 days. Exposure to molybdenum induced a significant decline in superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione while lipid peroxidation revealed a significant increase in epididymis in dose-dependent manner. Significant reduction in epididymal epithelial cells height, short sterocilia, increased intertubular stroma, decreased epididymal sperm reserve in the lumen and reduction in the diameter of cauda epididymal tubules with a relatively large amount of intertubular stroma was observed in epididymis of mice treated with molybdenum which might be correlated with enhanced oxidative stress. In the recovery group, significant improvement in antioxidant parameters and histoarchitecture of epididymis was observed indicating toxic effects of molybdenum can be reversed by cessation of exposure.