Effect of Vitamin C on the Activities of Testicular Phosphatases in Rats Exposed to Lead

Lead is known to affect the structure and function of various organs and tissues. The reproductive toxicity of lead by its direct effect at the level of gonadal steroidogenesis and indirect effect at the level of hypothalamus or pituitary involving changes in responsiveness to steroid feedback has also been established. However, little information is available on the effect of lead on the testicular biochemistry, especially on membrane bound enzymes. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant molecule and known to have number of beneficial effects against lead toxicity. The objectives of the present investigation is to study the effect of lead alone and its combination with Vitamin C on the activities of adenosine-Triphosphatases (ATP-ases), acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the testis of rats.