Remote organ injury induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion on reproductive organs, and protective effect of melatonin in male rats.
OBJECTIVE
Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI-R) leads to remote organ injury associated with oxidative stress. Melatonin is a well-known antioxidant and free-radical scavenger. This study was conducted to examine whether MI-R causes damage in the testes and sperm quality, and to investigate the possible protective effect of exogenous melatonin on these parameters in an in vivo rat model.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Experimental Research Center, Firat University Medical School, Elaziğ, Turkey.


METHODS
Eight-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 18).


METHODS
To produce MI-R, a branch of the descending left coronary artery was occluded for 30 minutes, followed by 120-minute reperfusion. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) or vehicle was given 10 minutes before ischemia via the jugular vein.


METHODS
Reproductive organ weights and epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility, abnormal sperm rate, and testicular-tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were examined after reperfusion.


RESULTS
MI-R significantly decreased epididymal sperm motility, and increased the testes-tissue level of MDA, compared to the control group. Administration of melatonin reversed the harmful effects of MI-R significantly. However, MI-R did not change sperm concentration, GSH levels, and reproductive organ weights.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that MI-R leads to damage of testis tissue and sperm motility, and melatonin protects against MI-R-induced reproductive-organ injury. These results may also encourage the use of antioxidants to reduce remote organ injury in the testis after MI-R.
Sahna
Engin
E
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Firat, Elaziğ, Turkey.
Türk
Gaffari
G
Atessahin
Ahmet
A
Yilmaz
Seval
S
Olmez
Ercument
E
D000818:Animals; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D020011:Protective Agents; D008550:Melatonin