title: The Effects of Melatonin on Oxidative Stress Parameters and DNA Fragmentation in Testicular Tissue of Rats Exposed to Microwave Radiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microwaves from mobile phones are one of the environmental toxicants that are capable of compromising male fertility by inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis in the testes. Melatonin is a lipophilic tryptophan indole amine and a potent antioxidant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin treatment on oxidative stress parameters and DNA fragmentation in the testicular tissue of rats exposed to microwave radiation (4 h/day).
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult Wistar rats were divided in 4 groups: I--treated with saline; II--treated with melatonin; III--exposed to microwaves; IV--exposed to microwaves and treated with melatonin. The melatonin (2 mg/kg ip) was administered daily. The animals were sacrificed after 20, 40 and 60 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Melatonin treatment prevented previously registered increases in malondialdehyde after only 20 days. Furthermore, it reversed the effects of microwave exposure on xanthine oxidase (after 40 days) and acid-DNase activity (after 20 days). However, neither protein carbonyl content nor catalase and alkaline Dnase activity were changed due to melatonin treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melatonin exerts potent antioxidant effects in the testes of rats exposed to microwaves by decreasing the intensity of oxidative stress; it also reduces DNA fragmentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sokolovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocic
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Stoimenov
authors.affiliation: Institute for Blood Transfusion, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stanojkovic
authors.affiliation: Institute for Blood Transfusion, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Danka M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sokolovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veljkovic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Electronic Engineering, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ristic
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Despotovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milisavljevic
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Radmilo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jankovic
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, Nis Clinical Center, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Binic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D008550:Melatonin