Cytogenetic Effect of Di- Butyl Phthalate on Adult Male Albino Rats and The Possible Protective Role of Ginger and Selenium Against This Effect

Di-butyl Phthalate (DBP) is used as a plasticizer, and it widely used in many consumer products. The male reproductive system is the main target organ of the toxicity of DBP. Ginger has antioxidant and androgenic properties and has a protective role against male reproductive dysfunction. Selenium (Se) is an antioxidant that play a critical role in cell biological processes and DNA repair. The present work aimed to evaluate cytogenetic effect of DBP on adult male albino rats and the possible protective role of ginger and selenium against this effect. One hundred and ten adult male albino rats were divided randomly into eleven groups, control, ginger, Se, DBP (100mg/kg B.W. and 500mg/kg B.W.) alone, with ginger, with Se and with both. All groups were received the treatment by oral gavage daily for 30 days and then samples of testis, epididymis and both femora were dissected and subjected for cytogenetic analysis. In all DBP treated groups, there were significant increase in comet tail length, frequencies of Micronuclei Polychromatic Erythrocytes (MNPCEs) and total count of sperm with abnormal morphology and significant decrease in the total sperm count and viability as compared to the control group in a dose dependent manner. Significant improvement occurred on co-administration of ginger alone, Se alone or both in comet tail length, frequencies of MNPCEs, the total count of sperm with abnormal morphology and total sperm count and viability.