The Synergistic Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Selenium on Serum Testosterone in Restraint Stressed Rats

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the synergistic effects of ascorbic acid and selenium on serum
testosterone level in male rats exposed to restraint stress . Wistar rats weighting 175±25 grams were divided
randomly into four equal groups (n=10), some were supplemented with ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg bw/day)
orally, the second group was supplemented with selenium (0.02 µg/kg bw/day) orally, third group was orally
supplemented with both ascorbic acid and selenium , the control included ten rats .Blood was collected
on 20th days of experiment, and serum testosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results for 20th days showed that supplement of rats
with ascorbic acid has highly significantly (P<0.001) increased serum testosterone to be (5.18 ± 0.1 ng/
ml compared to stressed rats which recorded (2.37 ± 0.16 ng/ml) and showed that supplement of rats with
selenium has highly significantly (P<0.001) increased serum testosterone level to be (5.28 ± 0.15 ng/ml)
compared to stressed rats, and showed that supplement of rats with (ascorbic acid+ Selenium) has highly
significantly (P<0.001) increased serum testosterone level to be (5.78 ± 0.09 ng/ml) compared to stressed
rats which recorded (2.37 ± 0.16 ng/ml). It is probable that there is a synergistic effect of ascorbic acid and
selenium in relieving effect on restraint stress on male rats and enhancing testosterone levels .