AIMTo show the oxidative stress after cigarette smoke exposure in rat testis and to evaluate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE).

METHODSTwenty-one rats were divided into three groups of seven. Animals in Group I were used as control. Rats in Group II were exposed to cigarette smoke only (4 x 30 min/d) and rats in Group III were exposed to cigarette smoke and received daily intraperitoneal injections of CAPE (10 micromol/kg x d). After 60 days all the rats were killed and the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide-dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the level of malondialdehyde were studied in the testicular tissues of rats with spectrophotometric analysis.

RESULTSThere was a significant increase in catalase and superoxide-dismutase activities in Group II when compared to the controls, but the levels of both decreased after CAPE administration in Group III. GSH-Px activity was decreased in Group II but CAPE caused an elevation in GSH-Px activity in Group III. The difference between the levels of GSH-Px in Group I and Group II was significant, but the difference between groups II and III was not significant. Elevation of malondialdehyde after smoke exposure was significant and CAPE caused a decrease to a level which was not statistically different to the control group. A significantly increased level of NO after exposure to smoke was reversed by CAPE administration and the difference between NO levels in groups I and III was statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSIONExposure to cigarette smoke causes changes in the oxidative enzyme levels in rat testis, but CAPE can reverse these harmful effects.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Caffeic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smoking ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; physiopathology

AIMTo evaluate the effects of melatonin on antioxidant enzyme levels and histopathologic changes in dizocilpine (MK-801)-induced psychosis model rat testis.

METHODSA total of 24 adult male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into three groups with 8 in each. Group I was used as control. Rats in Group II were injected with MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg body weight i.p. for 5 days). In addition to MK-801, melatonin (50 mg/kg body weight i.p. once a day for 5 days) was injected into the rats in Group III. The testes were harvested bilaterally for biochemical and histopathological examinations. Antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and nitric oxide (NO) levels in testicular tissues were analyzed using spectrophotometric analysis methods. Histopathological examinations of the testes were also performed.

RESULTSMK-801 induced testicular damage, which resulted in significant oxidative stress (OS) by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and NO levels were increased in testicular tissues of rats. Treatment with melatonin led to significant decrease in oxidative injury. Administration of melatonin also reduced the detrimental histopathologic effects caused by MK-801.

CONCLUSIONThe results of the present study showed that MK-801 cause OS in testicular tissues of rats and treatment with melatonin can reduce the harmful effects of MK-801.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Mental Disorders ; chemically induced ; Nitric Oxide ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protein Carbonylation ; Psychotropic Drugs ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology