Oxidative damage on the testes of adult rats by sodium metabisulfite (MBS)

The effect of sodium metabisulfite (MBS, Na2S2O5) on the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), testes weight and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) as well as the level of glutathione (GSH) were investigated in the testes of Wistar albino rats. The study was performed to elucidate the effect of MBS (520 mg/kg/day) ingestion on lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant enzymes activities. The results showed that MDA level as well as the activity of SOD was significantly increased in MBS-treated rats whereas the weight of the testes as well as the level of GSH was not significantly affected. However, there was significant reduction in the activity of CAT in the MBS-treated rats compared to the control. The presented data showed that ingestion of MBS has adverse effect on testes as it induced oxidative damage, reflected by increase lipid peroxidation and impairment in the activities of antioxidant enzymes