title: The histopathological evaluation of healing effects of vitamin C administered before methotrexate therapy on testicular injury induced by methotrexate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methotrexate (MTX) leads to acute toxic side effects in tissues or organs containing rapidly dividing cells such as seminiferous tubules. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of vitamin C against MTX-induced injury in rat testis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 31 rats were divided into 4 groups, including the control group. The study was completed within 4 weeks and the rats received daily doses of 2 mL/kg SF, 100 mg/kg vitamin C and 10 mg/kg/day MTX i.p according to their groups. The mean seminiferous tubular diameter, germinal epithelial cell thickness, and mean testicular biopsy score were determined by histologic examination of each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vitamin C + MTX group showed more similarity with the control group. Statistically significant results were achieved between groups as for mean seminiferous tubular diameter, germinal epithelial cell thickness, and mean testicular biopsy score. When compared with the group which received vitamin C after MTX therapy, values for mean seminiferous tubular diameter, germinal epithelial cell thickness, and mean testicular biopsy score were significantly higher in the group which received vitamin C before initiation of MTX therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin C decreased MTX-induced testicular histological injuries, especially when used before MTX therapy.
authors.affiliation: Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mersin University School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasemin Yuyucu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.affiliation: Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Özgörgülü
keywords: Vitamin C; methotrexate; testis