Abstract
This study investigated the probable protective effects of resveratrol (RES), an antioxidant, against methotrexate- (MTX-) induced testis damage. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, RES, MTX, and MTX + RES groups. Rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. Plasma and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in tissue, testicular histopathological damage scores, and testicular and epididymal epithelial apoptotic index (AI) were evaluated. The MTX group had significantly higher plasma and tissue MDA levels and significantly lower SOD and CAT activity than those of the control group. In the MTX + RES group, plasma and tissue MDA levels decreased significantly and SOD activity rose significantly compared to the MTX group. The MTX group had significantly lower Johnsen's testicular biopsy score (JTBS) values than those of the control group. JTBS was significantly higher in the MTX + RES group than in the MTX group. AI increased in the testis and epididymis in the MTX group and significantly decreased in the MTX + RES group. Our results indicate that RES has protective effects against MTX-induced testis damage at the biochemical, histopathological, and apoptotic levels.
Highlights
The use of chemotherapeutics is known to cause acute toxic effects in multiorgan systems [1]
Tissues were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)
Tissue and plasma MDA concentrations in the MTX group were significantly higher compared to the control and RES groups, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CAT activity were significantly lower in testicular tissue
Summary
The use of chemotherapeutics is known to cause acute toxic effects in multiorgan systems [1]. Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid antagonist agent used for chemotherapeutic purposes in malign tumors (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, nonHodgkin’s and lymphoma, breast cancer, malignancies of the head and neck, among others) and nonneoplastic diseases ( rheumatoid arthritis) [3]. Previous studies have reported damage (disorganization and vacuolization) in the seminiferous tubules of the testis, a decrease in sperm numbers, and sperm DNA damage following administration of MTX [4, 5]. Oxidative stress has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced testicular damage [6]. Studies have recently investigated the use of antioxidant materials in order to reduce the side effects resulting from MTX administration [5, 7]
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