Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Protective effect of melatonin against methotrexate-induced testicular damage in the rat model: An experimental study
Wannisa Sukhorum1, Jariya Umka Welbat2, Suchada Krutsri3
1School of Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Background:
Methotrexate (MTX) has been shown to affect the testes adversely, especially the seminiferous epithelium. As melatonin, an endocrine hormone, has been shown to normalize testicular function, its ability to prevent MTX-induced testicular damage should be considered.
Objective:
Based on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities of melatonin, this study aimed to investigate its protective effect against testicular damage induced by MTX.
Materials And Methods:
Forty adult male rats (200-230 g) were divided into five groups (n = 8/each). The rats in group I were injected with vehicle as a control. In group II, the rats were received intraperitoneal injections of melatonin (8 mg/kg) for 15 consecutive days. The rats in group III were intravenously injected with MTX (75 mg/kg) for 15 consecutive days. The remaining two groups received melatonin (8 mg/kgBW) for 15 (group IV) and 30 (group V) consecutive days, intraperitoneally, and then intravenously received MTX (75 mg/kgBW) on days 8 and 15 of the experimental period. Reproductive parameters, including epididymal sperm concentration, testicular tyrosine-phosphorylated protein expression, steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression, and caspase-3 and malondialdehyde levels, were examined.
Results:
The sperm concentrations ( 10 /ml) of groups IV (58.75 1.28) and V (55.93 2.57) were improved significantly (p = 0.032) compared with that of group II (32.92 2.14). The seminiferous epithelium in groups IV and V also increased, while caspase-3 expression decreased. In the melatonin-treated groups, the expression of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins at 32 kDa was decreased and that of proteins at 47 kDa was increased compared with the MTX group. StAR protein expression was not altered in any of the groups.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that melatonin improves the epididymal sperm concentration by decreasing the expression of caspase-3 and increasing that of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in MTX-treated testes.
More Related Videos
12:02Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption
Published on: July 30, 2016
06:42A Simple and Efficient Method for In Vivo Cardiac-specific Gene Manipulation by Intramyocardial Injection in Mice
Published on: April 16, 2018
