Beneficial effect of melatonin administration on the function of frozen-thawed rat testicular grafts.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Spermatogonia in testis is sensitive to the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy agents. Cryopreservation of testicular tissue may offer fertility restoration in young male cancer survivors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of melatonin on the survival of testicular grafts following cryopreservation and transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wister rats were randomly allocated into three groups control group; saline group (cryopreservation + autograft + saline); and melatonin group (cryopreservation + autograft + melatonin). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were assessed on day 7 after autograft transplantation. At day 30, graft recovery, spermatogonia per round tubule, and serum testosterone concentration in grafts were measured. RESULTS: Melatonin significantly diminished MDA content, enhanced GPx and SOD activities. Furthermore, the recovery rate, number of spermatogonia per round tubule, and serum testosterone concentration in melatonin group was markedly higher than the saline group. CONCLUSION: Melatonin administration at 20 mg/kg is effective in improving the function of frozen and thawed rat testicular graft. The protective role of melatonin can be attributed partly to the enhanced ROS scavenging and antioxidant enzyme activities. doi.org/10.54680/fr22310110612.