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Effects of melatonin on spinal cord injury-induced oxidative damage in mice testis
1Key Laboratory of Microcirculation, Ministry of Health, Institute of Microcirculation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
This study evaluated the effects of melatonin on spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced oxidative damage in testes. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-, SCI- or melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.)-treated SCI groups. To induce SCI, a standard weight-drop method that induced a contusion injury at T10 was used. After 1 week, testicular blood flow velocity was measured using the Laser Doppler Line Scanner. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured in testis homogenates. Microvascular permeability of the testes to Evan's Blue was examined by spectrophotometric and fluorescence microscopic quantitation. The tight junction protein zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin in testes were assessed by immunoblot analysis. Melatonin increased the reduced blood flow and decreased SCI-induced permeability of capillaries. MDA levels and MPO activity were elevated in the SCI group compared with shams, which was reversed by melatonin. In contrast, SCI-induced reductions in GSH/GSSG ratio were restored by melatonin. Decreased expression of ZO-1 and occludin was observed, which was attenuated by melatonin. Overall, melatonin treatment protects the testes against oxidative stress damage caused by SCI.
Insights
Melatonin treatment protects male testes from spinal cord injury (SCI) by reducing oxidative stress and improving blood flow. This study demonstrates melatonin
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause significant oxidative stress in testicular tissue.
- This oxidative damage may impair testicular function and reproductive health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of melatonin against SCI-induced oxidative damage in testes.
- To assess melatonin's impact on testicular blood flow, oxidative stress markers, vascular permeability, and tight junction proteins following SCI.
Main Methods:
- Adult male mice underwent T10 contusion SCI or sham surgery.
- Melatonin (10 mg/kg) was administered to a subset of SCI mice.
- Measurements included testicular blood flow, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH/GSSG ratio), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, microvascular permeability, and expression of ZO-1 and occludin.
Main Results:
- SCI significantly reduced testicular blood flow and increased vascular permeability, MDA levels, and MPO activity.
- SCI also decreased the GSH/GSSG ratio and expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin.
- Melatonin treatment reversed these SCI-induced changes, restoring blood flow, reducing permeability and oxidative stress markers, and preserving tight junction proteins.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin effectively protects testicular tissue against SCI-induced oxidative stress and vascular damage.
- Melatonin's protective mechanisms involve improving microvascular function and reducing inflammation and oxidative damage markers.
