Chlorella vulgaris ameliorates testicular toxicity induced by deltamethrin in male rats via modulating oxidative stress

This study was carried out to investigate the potential effects of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) on testicular function and oxidant/antioxidant status in normal and deltamethrin-intoxicated rats. Forty adult male rats were drenched either with normal saline, CV (50 mg/kg), deltamethrin (DM) (3 mg/kg), or CV combined with DM, daily for 8 weeks. At the end of the protocol, the epididymal sperm quality was evaluated and the testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase enzyme (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the serum testosterone levels were estimated. Normal rats treated with CV showed a significant increase in the total sperm number/epididymal tail, testicular SOD, and CAT levels with a significant decrease in the testicular MDA. Deltamethrin intoxication significantly decreased the proportions of motile and live sperm, the testosterone concentration, the testicular SOD and CAT levels, whereas it significantly increased the proportion of abnormal sperm and the testicular MDA. Chlorella vulgaris treatment significantly ameliorated the adverse effects of DM-intoxication and restored most of the parameters to levels that are comparable to those of the control group. In conclusion, CV administration improved the testicular function of normal rats and ameliorated the effect of severe oxidative stress conditions.