This study investigated the effects of vitamin E on the antioxidant parameters (MDA, SOD, CAT) in the testis of male Wistar rats exposed to predator-induced psychosocial stress. The research was designed in line with the protocol and guideline of the Institutional Animal Care and Use committee (IACUC). Twenty (20) adult Wistar rats weighing 170–250g and two (2) adult cats (Predators) were used for the study. The rats were divided into four (4) equal groups (n=5) and the experiment lasted for 52 days. Group A was a control (not stressed nor administered vitamin E), Group B was the negative control (only stressed), Group C was the positive control (administered 50mg/kg of Vitamin E only), and Group D was the experimental group (stressed and administered 50mg/kg of Vitamin E) for 52 days. At Day 53, the animals were euthanized (in line with CCAC guidelines) and the testes harvested and homogenised for oxidative stress enzyme; catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Malonyldialdehyde (MDA). The data obtained were analysed using GraphPad Prism Version 8 (San Diego, USA). The data were described as mean ± Standard Error of Means (S.E.M.), and ANOVA+Dunnett T3 Post-Hoc (at 95% confidence level) was used to compare the mean of the various groups. The result showed that psychosocial stress caused a significant decrease in CAT and SOD, and increase in MDA levels of the group B rats when compared to other groups (P<0.05). However, administration of vitamin E (at 50mg/kg), was effective in preventing significant changes in CAT, MDA and SOD as observed in group D, when compared to group A and C (P>0.05). From this experiment, it could be concluded that chronic stress could cause abnormal changes in the testicular antioxidant levels, which may impact on testicular function, while vitamin E could be used to quench the deleterious effects of reactive species elicited form chronic stress.
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