title: Protective effects of melatonin and Glycyrrhiza glabra extract on ochratoxin A--induced damages on testes in mature rats.
abstract: The effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract (GgE) as a natural antioxidant and melatonin (MEL) on ochratoxin A (OTA)-induced histopathological damages on the testes and oxidative stress was evaluated in male rats. The animals were assigned into four groups (n = 8) including control and test groups. The rats in control group received saline and the animals in the test groups received (200 µg/kg) of OTA, (15 mg/kg) of MEL + (200 µg/kg) OTA and (100 mg/kg) of GgE + (200 µg/kg) OTA, respectively, during 28 consecutive days. The serum total antioxidant power (TAOP) and total thiol molecules (TTM) production were assessed. Moreover, histopathological and histochemical studies were also performed. The results showed that the TAOP and TTM were decreased in OTA-exposed rats, while the animals that received MEL + OTA or GgE + OTA showed an enhancement in the serum TAOP and TTM levels. Histopathological analyses demonstrated that in OTA-exposed rats, the testicular degeneration, seminiferous tubule atrophy, dissociation of germinative epithelium, vasodilatation with vascular thrombosis, perivascular immune cell infiltration, hypertrophied leydic cells, giant cell formation, and negative tubular differentiation index (TDI) were observed. Surprisingly, both the biochemical and histopathological examinations showed that MEL and GgE, albeit with some differences, exerted a protective effect on OTA-induced damages. In conclusion, this data suggest that OTA contamination in animal feeds and human foods could cause reproductive abnormalities. Our data also indicate that OTA, at least partly by interfering in oxidative stress system, exerts its toxic effects on testes whereas MEL and GgE with antioxidant properties could fairly protect rats against OTA toxic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. hassanmalekinejad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malekinejad
authors.forename: Navideh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mirzakhani
authors.forename: Mazdak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Razi
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheraghi
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dardmeh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009793:Ochratoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C025589:ochratoxin A; D008550:Melatonin