Forty two rabbit bucks were used for this study, bucks were randomly divided into 7 groups of 6 each. Group A was administered olive oil for 16 weeks, group B (olive oil + DBP for 16 weeks), group C (melatonin for 8 weeks, then olive oil + DBP for another 8 weeks), group D (garlic for 8 weeks, then olive oil + DBP for another 8 weeks), group E (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then melatonin for another 8 week), group F (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then garlic for another 8 weeks) and group G (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then melatonin and garlic for another 8 weeks). The study lasted for 120 days, during which blood samples were collected on week 8 and 16 for serum hormonal profile determination and on the 120th day of the study, 3mls of blood was collected during sacrifice of each buck into a non EDTA sample bottle for serum lipid profile determination. Results show significant differences (P < 0.0001) in mean FSH, LH and T concentrations between DBP exposed and treatment groups. The results of serum lipid profile showed significant difference (P = 0.0086), in the mean serum total cholesterol concentration (mmol/L) between group B (4.08 ± 0.09) and groups (C, 2.5 ± 0.39; D, 2.35 ± 0.22; E, 3.2 ± 0.50; G, 2.9 ± 0.29), also there was significant difference (P = 0.0066) in the mean serum triglycerides concentration (mmol/L) between group B (1.83 ± 0.21) and all other groups (A, 0.88 ± 0.14; C, 1.15 ± 0.10; D, 1.28 ± 0.17; E, 1.1 ± 0.12; F, 1.35 ± 0.06 and G, 1.2 ± 0.15). Conclusion DBP decreases the concentration of serum hormones and increases total cholesterol and triglycerides concentration but administration of melatonin and garlic has promising protective effects.
Key words: : Melatonin; Allium sativum; Dibutyl phthalate; Serum hormones; Lipid profile
|