Background: Thiamethoxam (TMX) is a widespread neonicotinoid
insecticide; it thought to have a toxic effect on uterine and ovarian tissue. This
experiment aimed to evaluate the possible antioxidant protective role of both
the pycnogenol and L-arginine against this damage using histological,
immunohistochemical, and morphometric analysis.
Methods: Forty eight female albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups;
twelve rats per group as follows: 312 mg/kg thiomethoxame group (Tx group),
40 mg/kg pycnogenol + 312 mg/kg thiomethoxame group (Tx /Pg group), 1.3
g/kg L-arginine +312 mg/kg thiomethoxame group ((Tx /La group), and a
healthy control group. The rats were supplied with L-arginine, Pycnogenol,
TMX, and distilled water once a day for 30 days then sacrificed. Ovarian and
uterine tissues were removed for biochemical and histological analysis.
Result: A decrease in the activities of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in
Tx group, TMX caused a marked oxidative stress. Also, tissue damage in the
same group appeared in the form of atretic and vacuolated ovarian follicles
with degenerated uterine gland. Immunohistochemistry data, showed elevated
level of cytoplasmic reactivity to caspase3 with decrease reaction to Nfr2 in
Tx group as compared to other groups. Pycnogenol and L-arginine
administration revealed significant restoration of normal histological and
immunohistochemical tissue form.
Conclusion: The present findings suggest that Pycnogenol and L-arginine
could improve the ovarian and uterine damage resulting from administration
of thiomethoxame. |
