Factors Associated With Oxidative Stress in the Testes and the Mitigating Role of Antioxidants. A Review

Present day's reports have increased on relation to infertility of males associated with decreasing semen quality by the oxidative stress causing factors. Numerous external and internal factors were responsible for the ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, excessive ROS further effects on cellular antioxidant capacity in consequence leads to oxidative tension. The exogenous factors like, high testicular temperature, diabetes, Present life style and food habits, Declined testicular antioxidants, exposure of toxicants, exposure of radiation (X-ray) responsible for the imbalance production of hormones and antioxidants. However, under normal condition, the body has the ability to synthesize antioxidant defense enzymes for prohibiting the undesirable oxidative stress effects. But chronic exposure to environmental toxicants (endocrine disrupters, pesticides, xenobiotics) ionizing radiation and heat stress the body's antioxidants cannot stabilize the free radicals for prevention of deleterious oxidative stress in the testis. The impaired antioxidant system is associated with declining levels of antioxidant enzymes, increased levels of stress markers and probably affects the hormonal mechanism. This leads to abnormal sperm production and testicular morphological changes occur, finally leading to infertility in males. Exogenous antioxidant therapy (zinc, selenium, vitamins, and plant related compounds) can chelate the oxidative stress reaction and play an important role in improving the body's ability to fight against free radicals induced oxidative stress factors, and therefore betterment in the course of spermatogenesis.