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Published on: February 6, 2018
The effect of kisspeptin on spermatogenesis and apoptosis in rats
Nilüfer Aytürk1, Tülin Firat2, Aysel Kükner2
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medipol University, İstanbul, Turkey.
Background/Aim:
To study the effect of kisspeptin, a gonadotropin release stimulator, on the testicular tissue of the rat.
Materials And Methods:
Four groups were formed as follows: control, Kiss-10 501397645907nmol administration for 1 day, Kiss-10 administration for 13 days, and one last group kept for 7 days following Kiss-10 applied for 13 days. Testicular tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid Schiff, Masson trichrome staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferased UTP nick-end labeling, and Ki-67 immune staining. Serum testosterone levels were determined.
Results:
Serum testosterone level increased following acute application, while it was reduced by chronic treatment. Spermatogenic cells as stained by Ki-67 and TUNEL increased in the treated groups compared to the controls. Following a 7-day rest after treatment, a decrease in testosterone levels and Ki-67-stained cell numbers and an increase in TUNEL-stained cells were observed. Leydig cells showed increased vacuolization in the Kiss-1 group. Leydig cell vacuolization continued in the Kiss (13) group and was reduced in the Kiss (13 + 7) group.
Conclusion:
Kiss-10 increased spermatogenic cell proliferation, while testosterone level and proliferation decreased and apoptosis increased during the waiting period.
