title: Melatonin protects uterus and oviduct exposed to nicotine in mice.
abstract: Smoking is associated with higher infertility risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate protective effects of melatonin on the uterus and oviduct in mice exposed to nicotine. Adult female mice (n=32) were divided into four groups. Group A: control animals received normal saline, Group B: injected with nicotine 40µg/kg, Group C: injected with melatonin 10 µg, Group D: injected with nicotine 40µg/kg and melatonin 10 µg. All animals were treated over 15 days intraperitoneally. On the 16th day, animals in the estrus phase were dissected and their uterus and oviducts were removed. Immunohistochemistry was recruited for studying apoptosis and for detection of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha in luminal epithelium of the uterus and oviduct. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for serum estradiol level determination. Nicotine in group B decreased estradiol level and ERalpha numbers both in the uterus and oviduct (p<0.05). Co-administration of melatonin-nicotine in Group D ameliorated the histology of the uterus and oviduct, increased ERalpha numbers and reduced apoptosis in the uterus and oviduct compared with the nicotine Group B (p<0.05). This study indicates that nicotine impairs the histology of the uterus and oviduct and co-administration of melatonin-nicotine ameliorates these findings, partly through alteration in ERalpha numbers and reduction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee Office, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Nazanin Seyed
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Saadat
authors.affiliation: Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammadghasemi
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee Office, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Sina Khajeh
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jahromi
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee Office, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Homafar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haghiri
keywords: estrogen receptor; melatonin; nicotine; oviduct; uterus