Abstract:
In this study, we investigated the effect of melatonin on cisplatininduced
spermiotoxicity using quantitative, biochemical and
histopathological approaches. Cisplatin (CP, 7 mg/kg) and melatonin
(10 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected. The rats were decapitated on 5th
(short-term group) or 50th day (long-term group) after CP injection. Traits
of reproductive organs, sperm characteristics, testicular histological findings,
and the lipid peroxidation in the testicular tissue were determined. Melatonin
mitigated CP-induced reductions in testes, epididymis and accessory gland
weights in rats decapitated on day 5. Both short- and long-term CP treatment
decreased sperm concentration, sperm motility and increased abnormal
sperm rates compared with the control. But the reduction of sperm
concentration in long-term CP treatment was insignificant. Although
treatment with melatonin provided moderately normalization with respect to
sperm concentration in short-term treatment group, melatonin caused a
marked normalization of sperm motility in both CP + melatonin groups.
Both groups treated with the melatonin showed decreases in abnormal sperm
rates compared with alone CP. While testicular malondialdehyde levels were
elevated after CP treatment, glutathione peroxidase activity decreased
significantly in both groups. Glutathione levels reduced after long-term
treatment, but not in short-term group by CP administration. Treatment
with CP plus melatonin provided significant amelioration of oxidative stress
parameters. Histopathological findings of testes in both short- and long-term
treatment groups paralleled the biochemical and spermatogenic results. This
study clearly indicates that CP-treatment impaired markedly testicular
function and combined treatment with melatonin prevented much of the
toxicity in rats.
