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Melatonin attenuates doxorubicin‐induced testicular toxicity in rats
Author(s) -
Lee K.M.,
Lee I.C.,
Kim S.H.,
Moon C.,
Park S.H.,
Shin D.H.,
Kim S.H.,
Park S.C.,
Kim H.C.,
Kim J.C.
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1439-0272.2011.01269.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , glutathione , glutathione reductase , lipid peroxidation , malondialdehyde , superoxide dismutase , toxicity , oxidative stress , antioxidant , chemistry , pharmacology , sperm , endocrinology , reproductive toxicity , sperm motility , medicine , glutathione peroxidase , andrology , biochemistry , enzyme
Summary This study investigated the protective effects of melatonin ( MLT ) against doxorubicin ( DXR )‐induced testicular toxicity and oxidative stress in rats. DXR was given as a single intraperitoneal dose of 10 mg kg −1 body weight to male rats at 1 h after MLT treatment on day 6 of the study. MLT at 15 mg kg −1 body weight was administered daily by gavage for 5 days before DXR treatment followed by an additional dose for 5 days. Sperm analysis, histopathological examination and biochemical methods were used for this investigation. DXR caused a decrease in the weight of seminal vesicles, epididymal sperm count and motility and an increase in the incidence of histopathological changes of the testis. In addition, an increased malondialdehyde ( MDA ) concentration and decreased glutathione content, glutathione reductase ( GR ), glutathione‐S‐transferase ( GST ), superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) and catalase activities were observed. On the contrary, MLT treatment significantly ameliorated DXR ‐induced testicular toxicity in rats. Moreover, MDA concentration and GR , GST and SOD activities were not affected when MLT was administered in conjunction with DXR . These results indicate that MLT had a protective effect against DXR ‐induced testicular toxicity and that the protective effects of MLT may be due to both the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant activity.