Arsenic is a well-known toxic metalloid element in the environment that affects human and animal body organs including tissue lipid peroxidation and reproduction system. The present study was aimed to investigate the protective role of catechin on sexual hormones of rats exposed to oxidative damage induced by arsenic. Twenty newly weaned rats were randomly divided into four groups as control group, group received catechin alone, group received sodium arsenate alone and group received catechin

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... th sodium arsenate. Arsenic was administered through drinking water to rats at a concentration of 4 ppm sodium arsenate for 30 days and catechin at rate of 10 mg per kg body weight two times per week for 4 weeks. In the final of experiment, rats were anesthetized with diethyl ether and the blood was collected from heart by heparinized tubes. Rats received sodium arsenate had the lowest concentration of FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone (P<0.05) in the plasma. Catechin administration alone increased (P<0.05) plasma FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone compared to the control group. Rats exposed to arsenic toxicity and received catechin had higher plasma concentrations of gonadotropin and steroidal hormone as compared to those exposed to sodium arsenate alone. In conclusion, arsenic toxicity decreased and catechin had ameliorated effect and increased sexual hormones in female rats.