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Effect of metformin on germ cell‐specific apoptosis, oxidative stress and epididymal sperm quality after testicular torsion/detorsion in rats
Author(s) -
GhasemnejadBerenji M.,
GhaziKhansari M.,
Yazdani I.,
Nobakht M.,
Abdollahi A.,
GhasemnejadBerenji H.,
Mohajer Ansari J.,
Pashapour S.,
Dehpour A. R.
Publication year - 2018
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.12846
Subject(s) - malondialdehyde , testicular torsion , oxidative stress , tunel assay , andrology , superoxide dismutase , endocrinology , apoptosis , metformin , sperm motility , sperm , glutathione peroxidase , medicine , seminiferous tubule , biology , spermatogenesis , surgery , diabetes mellitus , biochemistry , sertoli cell
Summary The study was designed to evaluate the effects of metformin on apoptosis and epididymal sperm quality in a rat testicular ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury model. A total of 72 male rats were divided into four groups ( n = 18 for each group): group 1 (sham‐operated group), group 2 (metformin group), group 3 (torsion/detorsion [T/D] + saline) and group 4 (T/D + 300 mg kg −1 metformin). Testicular torsion was achieved by rotating the right testis 720° in a clockwise direction for 1 hr. Tissue malondialdehyde ( MDA ) level and caspase‐3 activity increased and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase decreased in comparison with sham‐operated group 4 hr after detorsion ( p < .001). In six rats of each group 24 hr after detorsion, histopathological changes and germ cell apoptosis were significantly deteriorated by measuring mean of seminiferous tubule diameters ( MSTD ) and TUNEL test. Moreover, 30 days after T/D, sperm concentration and motility were examined in six animals per group. Metformin pre‐treatment reduced MDA and caspase‐3 levels and normalised antioxidant enzyme activities 4 hr after detorsion, and germ cell apoptosis was significantly decreased, and the MSTD , as well as sperm functions, was significantly improved. Reduction in oxidative stress and apoptosis may have a major role in cytoprotective effects of metformin.