Impact of Coenzyme Q10 on Hormonal Profile in Male Sprague-Dawley Rat Exposed to Sub-Chronic Concentrations of Cypermethrin

Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the impact of Coenzyme Q10 on hormonal profile in male Sprague-Dawley rat exposed to sub-chronic concentrations of Cypermethrin.

Experimental Design: A completely randomized experimental design using standard methods for analysis. Hormonal assay was carried out by Microplate Enzyme Immunoassay using their respective test kits. Including AccuBindTM Microplate EIA Test system from Monobind Inc. Lake Forest CA 92630 USA while statistical analysis was carried out using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA); where significant differences were found, Pair-wise comparisons conducted with Tukey test using SPSS 20 software.

Location and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Department of Biology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. GPS 4o48ʹ14ʹʹ N 6o59ʹ12ʹʹ E. The study lasted for 28days.

Methodology: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups, A-E(n=6/group).Group A was given cool clean water and standard rat pellet ad libitum. Group B,C and D were administered Cypermethrin @ 10mg/kg/bw,20mg/kg/bw,30mg/kg/bw respectively along with 10mg/kg/bw of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Group E received 30mg/kg/bw of cypermethrin only without Coenzyme Q10. All animals were allowed access to cool clean water and standard rat pellet ad libitum. Bodyweight of the animals were taken twice a week and recorded in grams. Twenty-four hours before the animals were euthanized with ethyl ether inhalation, feed was withdrawn from the animals. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00am into plain sample tubes according to the approved protocol of blood collection techniques. Analysis for the quantitative determination of all androgens was by Microplate Enzyme Immunoassay using the AccuBindTM Microplate EIA Test system from Monobind Inc. Lake Forest CA 92630 USA and expressed as their respective units. The animals were latter dissected and the vital organs harvested and weighed. The values were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software 20.

Results: Results showed that there was no significant difference between the bodyweight and organ weight of animals in the treatment group compared with the control. Also, treatment with Cypermethrin only in group E, reduced the level of all the androgens considered in exposed animals. However, with concurrent administration of coenzyme Q10, the production of all androgens especially the production of Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone and Progesterone in groups B,C,D and Estrogen in group B were significantly (P=.05) increased to values higher than the control.

Conclusion: This elevation indicates the role of Coenzyme Q10 as an effective antioxidant to boost hormonal level production especially the level of androgens.