Effect of melatonin on testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats: is this effect related to the proinflammatory cytokines?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the protective effect of melatonin in testicular ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is mediated by the proinflammatory molecules.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
University pharmacology laboratory.


METHODS
Fifty-six 8-week-old male Wistar albino rats.


METHODS
Left testicular artery and vein was occluded for 1 hour, followed by 3 hours or 24 hours of reperfusion. Melatonin (10 mg/kg IP) or vehicle (1% ethanol in saline) was given 10 minutes before ischemia.


METHODS
Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) content, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 were examined in testicular tissue after 3 hours of reperfusion. Histologic examination was made after 24 hours of reperfusion.


RESULTS
The MDA, PC, and MPO levels in testicular tissue increased significantly after IR, but the proinflammatory cytokine levels did not change. Melatonin treatment decreased lipid and protein oxidation and ameloriated histopathologic alterations induced by IR without any change in proinflammatory cytokine levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The protective effect of melatonin on IR-induced testiculary injury is related to its antioxidant properties but not to proinflammatory cytokines.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey. zykurcer@harran.edu.tr
Zehra
Z
Kurcer
Elif
E
Oguz
Hatice
H
Ozbilge
Fusun
F
Baba
Nurten
N
Aksoy
Necla
N
Celik
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D010919:Placebos; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010919:Placebos; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009195:Peroxidase; D008550:Melatonin