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Melatonin prevents dexamethasone‐induced testicular oxidative stress and germ cell apoptosis in golden hamster, M esocricetus auratus
Author(s) -
Mukherjee Arun,
Haldar Chandana,
Vishwas Dipanshu Kumar
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.12357
Subject(s) - melatonin , endocrinology , oxidative stress , medicine , tbars , lipid peroxidation , apoptosis , germ cell , golden hamster , mesocricetus , biology , hamster , dexamethasone , biochemistry , gene
Summary This study investigated the protective effect of melatonin on dexamethasone ( D ex), an extensively used anti‐inflammatory and immunosuppressive synthetic glucocorticoid, induced testicular oxidative stress and germ cell apoptosis in golden hamster. Hamsters were randomly divided into four groups ( n = 7): group I – control; group II – melatonin treated (10 mg kg −1 day −1 ); group III – Dex treated (7 mg kg −1 day −1 ) and group IV – combination of D ex and melatonin. All the injections were administered intraperitoneally for seven consecutive days. The histopathological changes, specific biochemical markers, including antioxidative enzymes, plasma melatonin level and the markers for germ cell apoptosis were evaluated. Dex administration decreased antioxidant enzyme activities ( SOD , CAT , GSH ‐ P X ), plasma melatonin level and melatonin receptor ( MT 1) expression with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation ( TBARS ) and altered testicular histopathology which might culminate into increased germ cell apoptosis as evident from increased B ax/ B cl‐2 ratio and caspase‐3 expression. However, melatonin pre‐treatment enhanced enzyme activities for SOD , CAT , GSH ‐ P X with a simultaneous decrease in B ax/ B cl‐2 ratio and caspase‐3 expression. Our findings clearly suggest that melatonin improved defence against D ex‐induced testicular oxidative stress and prevented germ cell apoptosis, suggesting a novel combination therapeutic approach for management of male reproductive health.