Effect of epigallocatechin gallate on cadmium chloride-induced changes in behavior, biochemical parameters and spermatogenesis of male sprague dawley rats

Abstract

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the ester of epigallocatechin and gallic acid and is a type of catechin. EGCG is abundant in dry tea leaves and its ameliorative effect on heavy metal-induced behaviour and spermatogenesis is not clear. Hence, the present study is planned to study the ameliorative effect of EGCG on cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced changes in behaviour and spermatogenesis of Sprague Dawley rats. Healthy, male rats were divided into four groups viz., control, CdCl2 (5 mg/kg), CdCl2 (5 mg/kg) + vitamin C (200 mg/kg) and CdCl2 (5 mg/kg) + EGCG (50 mg/kg) respectively. All the animals were administered with the respective assigned treatment by intraperitoneal route for 28 days. During the study, body weights changes and the behavioral functions (locomotor activity, grip strength, and escape latency tendency) of the rats were monitored at weekly intervals. At the end of the study, sperm samples were collected from cauda epididymis and motility was checked. Later, the number of spermatozoa was calculated using the red blood cell counting method. The animals administered with CdCl2 and CdCl2 + EGCG showed a significant reduction in body weight, behavioral functions and the number of sperm cells. Vitamin C prevented CdCl2-induced changes in behavioral functions and reduction in the number of sperm cells. In the present study, EGCG failed to prevent CdCl2-induced changes in the behavior of the rats and reduction in the number of sperm cells whereas, vitamin C has ameliorative effects on CdCl2-induced changes in behavioral functions and reduction in the number of sperm cells.