Protective effects of testosterone propionate on reproductive toxicity caused by Endosulfan in male mice

To investigate the protective effect of testosterone propionate (TP) on reproductive toxicity caused by endosulfan in male mice, three group experiments were designed: the control group received 0 and 0, the endosulfan group received 0.8 and 0, and the endosulfan + TP group received 0.8 mg/kg/d endosulfan and 10 mg/kg/d TP, respectively. The results showed that TP significantly prevented the declines of concentration and motility rates in sperm, reduced the rate of sperm abnormalities in epididymis; and antagonized the decreases in spermatogenous cell and sperm numbers in testes induced by endosulfan. TP also decreased the numbers of cavities formed, prevented the decreases of plasma testosterone and androgen receptor (AR) mRNA in testicular tissue, alleviated the increase of LH induced by endosulfan. It is likely that TP relieve the reproductive toxicity by reversing the endosulfan-induced decreases in testosterone secretion and AR expression that resulted from the alteration of Leydig cell function. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2014.