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NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
LETTERS
including
Psychoneuroimmunology, Neuropsychopharmacology,
Reproductive Medicine, Chronobiology
and Human Ethology, ISSN 0172–780X
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NEL
Vol.24 No.1/2, Feb-Apr 2003
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The
role of melatonin in varicocele testis
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2003;
24:86–90
pii: NEL241203A14
PMID: 12743540
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Effects
of melatonin on testicular tissue nitric oxide level and antioxidant
enzyme activities in experimentally induced left varicocele
Atilla
Semercioz, Rahmi Onur, Sezai Ogras &
Irfan Orhan
Department
of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Firat,
Elazig - TURKEY.
Submitted:
May 31, 2002 Accepted: August 26, 2002
Key
words:
varicocele, testis, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species,
melatonin
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The pathophysiology of the testicular damage in varicocele
have not been completely understood. There are several studies
concerning the effects of increased seminal reactive oxygen
species (ROS) and the role of nitric oxide (NO) in infertile
patients with varicocele and antioxidants have been used successfully
to decrease oxidative stress in testis. In this study, we
determined the effects of melatonin on testicular NO and antioxidant
enzyme levels and investigated whether melatonin can prevent
or diminish testicular damage in adult rats with experimentally
induced unilateral varicocele.
METHODS:
Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three
groups. In group I, using midline incision left renal vein
was exposed but not tied. In group II, left renal vein was
partially ligated to create varicocele. In group III, after
creation of varicocele, daily and fresh-prepared melatonin
was administered intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. Histopathological
examination was performed and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA),
glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD)
and tissue NO levels were determined.
RESULTS:
In group II, there were severe degenerative changes of the
germinal epithelium and atrophy of the seminiferous tubules
in left testis. In group III, in which rats received melatonin
intraperitoneally, there were focal areas showing decrease
in spermatogenesis and some degenerative changes. Similarly,
the levels of ROS and NO were significantly increased in testicular
tissue of rats in group II, whereas group III rat testes in
which melatonin was administered, showed increased antioxidant
enzyme activity and decreased NO levels.
CONCLUSION:
Infertility related to varicocele has multiple pathophysiological
mechanisms and the effect of ROS, NO and antioxidant defense
system are contributing factors in the disease state. Melatonin,
a potent free radical scavenger, administration might be helpful
in the prevention or at least, in the delay of the severe
effects of varicocele on testicular tissue.
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__________________________________________________________
Copyright © Neuroendocrinology Letters 2003
Society of Integrated Sciences
All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced, stored in a
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without prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief.
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