| Abstract: | Aims: In order to investigate the effects of intensive exercise on reproductive dysfunctions in relation to oxidative stress, a total of 12 male rats (age: 3 months, weight: 127 ± 2.86 g) were randomly divided into: (1) control group (CG, n = 6) and (2) experimental group (Exp. G, n = 6). Methods: An exercise protocol of 3 h swimming day?1, 5 days week?1 was followed for 4 weeks in Exp. G, with no exercise in CG. All the animals were killed; blood, testes and the accessory sex organs were collected for estimation of different parameters. Results: A significant diminution (P < 0.001) was noted in testicular Δ5, 3β‐hydroxy‐steroid dehydrogenase (Δ5, 3β‐HSD), 17β‐hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (17β‐HSD); plasma levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH); preleptotine spermatocytes (pLSc), midpachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and stage 7 spermatids (7Sd); with no significant alteration in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and spermatogoia A (Asg) after intensive exercise. A significant elevation (P < 0.001) in malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes (CD) along with significant reduction (P < 0.001) in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione‐s‐transferase (GST) and peroxidase were found in testes of Exp. G. Moreover, the somatic index of testes and accessory sex organs were also decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after exercise. High correlations have been found in 17 β‐HSD with CAT (r = 0.90, P < 0.05) and peroxidase (r = 0.83, P < 0.05), epididymal somatic index with CD (r = ?0.91; P < 0.05) and GSH (r = 0.84, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study focused an chronic intensive exercise‐induced oxidative stress that may cause dysfunctions in male reproductive system including steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. |
