Oxidative Damage and Reproductive Toxicity Associated with Antouka Super® in Male Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica): The Protective Effects of Hydroethanolic Leaves Extract of Persea americana

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of hydroethanolic leaves extract of The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of Hydroethanolic leaves Persea americana (HEPA) against reproductive toxicity induced by Antouka Super® (AS) in male Japanese quail. The study was carried out in the Teaching and Research Farm of University of Dschang between February and May 2016. Forty (40) immature male Japanese quails (28 days old), were divided into five groups of 8 birds each and subjected to the following treatments: Group 1, birds receiving 10 ml/kg b.w of distilled water (negative control group (CO-); Group 2, birds receiving 75 mg of AS/kg (positive control group (CO+). while groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered 50, 100 and 200 mg/ kg b.w of HEPA respectively together with AS at 75 mg/kg. All the test solutions were orally administered once a day for 60 days using an endogastric canule. Dissection of the vas deferent was performed to obtain spermatozoa. The protective effects of HEPA on the organ weights, serum hormones, oxidative stress biomarkers, sperm characteristics and histology changes in the testes were evaluated. Results revealed that exposure to AS significantly (p<0.05) decreased reproductive organ weights (testes, epididymis and vas deferens); the levels of testicular proteins and of serum hormones (LH, FSH and Testosterone). This insecticide also significantly (p<0.05) decreased sperm characteristics (mobility, viability and density) and fertility indices (percentage of fertile eggs, hatching rate and chick survival rate after hatching), and increased the sperm abnormalities (minor and major) and the embryonic and post-embryonic mortality rate. In addition, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the testes of AS treated quails. While the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly (p<0.05) increased compared with the values recorded in the negative control group birds. Histopathological examination of the testes of AS treated quails revealed testicular lesions characterized by moderate to severe degenerative changes of seminiferous tubules and incomplete spermatogenesis. Administration of HEPA to treated birds alleviates the reproductive toxicity and testicular oxidative damage induced by AS. Thus, exposure of male Japanese quails to AS induce oxidative stress and impairment on the reproductive parameters. These effects can be mitigated by the administration of HEPA.