Blueberries prevent the effect of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in rat epididymis

Summary Intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) induced a decrease in sperm count and oxidative damage in epididymis. We have previously demonstrated that a blueberry‐enriched polyphenol extract (BB‐4) reduced the adverse effects of oxidative stress in rat testis under hypobaric hypoxia. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether BB‐4 could reverse oxidative stress in epididymis. To evaluate the protective role of BB‐4 in epididymis, male rats were exposed to IHH. Lipid peroxidation, (LPO) expression and activity of glutathione reductase (GR) were evaluated. Our results showed a reduction in LPO and a decrease in GR activity in rat epididymis exposed to IHH. These results suggest that BB‐4 can prevent the effects of IHH in rat epididymis.