The Protective Role of Wheat Germ Oil Against Adverse Effect of Deltamethrin on Reproductive Aspects of Male Albino Rats

Deltamethrin (DLM) is a synthetic pyrethroid type-II known to cause many adverse effects in experimental animals such as endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and negative impact on gametogenesis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective role ofwheat germ oil against reproductive toxicity induced by Deltamethrin (DLM) in male albino rats through evaluation of semen picture, measuring the testosterone levels,DNA fragmentation percentage and pathologic changes of the testes. Thirty male rats were divided into three groups (10 each); the first group (C) was administered with normal saline, the second group was given (DLM) at a dose of (6 mg/kg. B.W. of rats) andthe third group (DLM+WGO) was treated with wheat germ oil (1.5 ml/Kg. B.W. of rats),and after one h DLM (6 mg/kg. B.W. of rats) was administered. All treatments were orally given using stomach gavage for 30 days. The rats were left for 65 days of treatment to complete time of one spermatogenesis and maturation of sperms in epididymis then sacrificed and blood samples were collected, testes and epididymis were removed, weighted, and examined histopathologically. DLM administration significantly decreased the weight of testes and adversely affected the semen quality. Testosterone levels were significantly reduced. There is a significant elevation in the DNA laddering percentage in the DLM group compared to the C group. Histopathological examination of the testes revealed that DLM induced changes in the form of distorted seminiferous tubules with intraluminal sloughing degenerated spermatogenic cells. Also there is marked interstitial edema and congestion. The co-administration of DLM with wheat germ showed improvement in weight of testes, semen pictures, testosterone level and a significant reduction in the DNA laddering percentage compared to DLM group. It can be concluded that, the wheat germ oil can mitigate the adverse effects of DLM on male fertility, and leads to improvement of male reproductive performance.