The reproductive functions were evaluated by epididymal sperm counts, motility, fertility rate, reproductive organ weights, biochemistry and histological examination of testes in vanadyl sulphate treated adult male Wistar rats. Oral administration of vanadyl sulphate (100 mg/kg b.wt./day) for 60 days caused a decrease ( p < 0.05) in the weights of testes and accessory reproductive organs. Cauda epididymal sperm analysis exhibited a significant decline in the number ( p < 0.01) and motility ( p < 0.001). Atrophy of seminiferous tubules was observed in histopathological examination. The diameter of seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells nuclei were reduced. Biochemical analysis of marker parameters indicated alteration in biochemical milieu of the genital organs. The mating tests with untreated females revealed a decrease in pregnancy rate and mean number of the pups delivered. As such present investigation indicate an adverse effect of vanadyl sulphate on male reproductive functions.

Background:: Current study evaluated the protective potential of quercetin against lindane induced toxicity in mice brain. For investigation, mice were allocated into four groups; First group was control. Second group was administered with oral dose of lindane (25 mg/kg bw) for 4 consecutive days. Third group was exposed to quercetin (40 mg/kg bw) and in fourth group, quercetin was administered 1 hour prior to the exposure of lindane. Objective:: Two major objectives were decided for study. First was to create lesions in the brain by lindane and; second was to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of quercetin. Methods:: To study oxidative responses, level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl content (PCC), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in brain homogenates. Three key step regulating enzymes of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle viz citrate synthase (CS), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and fumarase were also assayed. Results:: Lindane treatment significantly enhanced the levels of TBARS (P<0.001),PCC (P<0.001), GPx (P<0.001), SOD (P<0.05), PDH (P<0.05) and fumarase (P<0.001) in brains of mice compared to control. Meanwhile, it alleviated GSH, CAT and CS (P<0.05) activity. Conclusion:: Pretreatment with quercetin in lindane treated group not only restored, previously altered biochemical parameters after lindane treatment and also significantly improved them too which suggests that quercetin is not only invulnerable rather neuroprotective against lindane intoxication.