ABSTRACT
Background: testicular damage due to spermatic cord torsion may lead to infertility. It is probably because of changes in oxidative stress factors such as malondialdehyde
Objective: to investigate the protective effect of melatonin [MLT], as an antioxidant, on testicular damage induced by acute unilateral spermatic cord torsion and detorsion [T/D] in rats
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, 48 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups [8 rats/group]: sham group underwent right scrotal surgery only., the T/D group underwent right testicular torsion [for 1 hr] and detorsion, and the melatonin group underwent right testicular torsion, received 25 microg/kg melatonin intraperitoneally immediately after surgery of T/D. Then the histological parameters and malondialdehyde [MDA] changes were evaluated
Results: torsion and detorsion decreased the diameter of the tubules significantly compared to controls [p=0.003]. Melatonin could increase the diameter, but it was not significant [p=0.26]. The heights of the epithelium were constant in sham, T/D, and melatonin groups without any significant difference between groups [p=0.98]. Based on Johnsen's score, spermatogenesis was normal in the sham group. The torsion significantly injured all lineage cells [p<0.001]. There was no any spermatid or sperm in the seminiferous tubules. Melatonin improved the spermatogenesis significantly [p=0.02], but could not improve MDA level significantly [p=0.99]
Conclusion: severe degenerative changes of testis were induced by acute unilateral spermatic cord torsion and detorsion in rats, but it had no effect on MDA level
ABSTRACT
Background: After improvements in various cancer treatments, life expectancy has been raised, but success in treatment causes loss of fertility in many of the survived young men. Cryopreservation of immature testicular tissues or cells introduced as the only way to preserve fertility. However, freezing has some harmful effects. Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, has receptors in reproductive systems of different species. It is assumed that melatonin has free radical scavenger properties
Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of melatonin on the cryopreserved testicular cells in mouse
Materials and Methods: Cells from 7- 10 days old NMRI mice testes were isolated using two step enzymatic digestion. The testicular cells were divided into two groups randomly and cryopreserved in two different freezing media with and without the addition of 100 micro m melatonin. Finally, apoptosis of the cells was assayed by flow cytometry. Also, lactate dehydrogenase activity test was performed to assess the cytotoxicity
Results: The results of lactate dehydrogenase showed the nearly cytotoxic effect of melatonin. The results of flow cytometry showed increase in apoptosis in the cryopreserved cells in the media containing melatonin compared to the control group
Conclusion: The present study shows that melatonin has an apoptotic effect on cryopreserved mouse testicular cells