Oxidative Stress and Reproductive Damage Induced by Lead Acetate in Female Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus): Curative Effects of Hydroethanolic Extract of Spirulina platensis

This study was aimed at evaluating the curative effects of Hydroethanolic Extract Of Spirulina platensis (HESP) on the reproductive function of female Guinea pig exposed to oxidative stress. Sixty females, 3-4 months old, weighing 300-400 g were divided into six groups (10 animals/group). The neutral control received distilled water, the negative control was treated with lead acetate at a dose 12 mg/kg.b.w while the positive control was given 12 mg of lead acetate/kg b.w and 100 mg of vitamin C. Groups 4, 5 and 6 were treated with lead acetate at a dose of 12 mg/kg b.w for the first 30 days and then received from the 31st day to the 90th day HESP at doses of 50,100 and 200 mg/kg.b.w respectively once daily. Results revealed that lead caused prominent toxic effects on fertility, deterioration of sex organs as well as a disruption of serum levels of Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and progesterone. Lead acetate markedly increased tissues oxidative-stress marker (malondiadehyde), whereas it reduces the activities of antioxidant-enzymes, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), total peroxidase and catalase. These changes were also accompanied by a significant (p<0.05) decrease of body weight gain. However treatment with HESP ameliorated lead acetate-induced anomalies by significantly (p<0.05) increasing the body weight gain, organ weights and feed intake. Also HESP let to a significant (p<0.05) improvement of fertility indices, a significant (p<0.05) increase in serum LH, FSH, progesterone hormones and an increase in antioxidant enzymes. Curative treatment brought about histological tissues protection and a significant (p<0.05) decrease of toxicity biomarkers (AST, ALT, creatinine and urea) and Malondiadehyde (MDA). In conclusion, lead acetate induced reproductive stress and administration of HESP can mitigate these adverse effects due to its antioxidant properties.