Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin (CUR) on antioxidant
status, body weight (BW) gains, and some reproductive parameters in male rats
exposed to subchronic doses of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Thirtytwo
rats were divided into four groups. The first group was kept as control. The second
group (TCDD group) was given TCDD at a dose of 50 ng kg
1 BW per day; the third
group (CUR group) was treated with CUR at a dose of 80 mg kg
1 BW per day. The
fourth group (TCDD þ CUR group) was given TCDD and CUR at the same doses
simultaneously. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased in the
TCDD group. In addition, TCDD exposure decreased liver superoxide dismutase
(SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activities of kidney and brain, glutathione peroxidase
(GSH-Px) activities of liver, kidney, and brain, and glutathione levels of liver, kidney,
and heart. However, CUR treatment with TCDD exposure decreased MDA levels in
all tissues and increased SOD activities of liver, kidney, and brain, CAT activity of
heart, and GSH-Px activities of heart and brain. TCDD caused a decrease in BW gain,
and CUR partially eliminated this effect of TCDD. In addition, while reproductive
organ weights, sperm concentration, and sperm motility tended to decrease with
TCDD exposure, these effects tended to be close to normal levels by CUR treatment.
In conclusion, CUR was seen to be effective in the treatment and prevention of toxicity
induced by subchronic TCDD exposure.
