To investigate the effects of vitamin E and melatonin on gamma ray induced damage in testes of rats. A total of 40 Wistar type rats were divided into 4 groups, each including 10 rats. Total body radiation was applied to the first 3 groups with 90 cm, 90% isodose curve using Cobalt 60 apparatus. The period of exposure time was 11 min 30 sec and a total of 360 cGy gamma radiation was administered in each session. Following radiation exposure, intraperitoneal injection of vitamin E (100 mg/kg/day), melatonin (100 mg/kg/day), 0.9% saline (100 mg/kg/day) were done in group 1-3, respectively. Group 4 was the control group and intraperitoneal 0.9% saline (100 ml/kg/day) was administered without any radiation. Five days after the procedure testes were removed and analyzed to measure Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and degree of histopathological injury. Tissue MDA level measured in rats receiving melatonin did not show significant difference when compared to control group (p>0.05). Similarly, there was no significant tissue injury on histopathological examination between melatonin administered and control groups. However, compared to the control group both tissue MDA level and tissue injury were found to be significantly increased in groups, which received vitamin E and 0.9% saline solution (p<0.05). Melatonin displays a remarkable tissue protective effect by inhibiting the damage mediated by free radicals after radiation. The same effect could not be obtained with Vitamin E. Thus, the cytoprotective effect of melatonin can be of value in preserving testicular functions after radiation exposure.
Protective effect of vitamin e and melatonin against radiation ınduced damage in testes of rats (scı-scı expandıe)
This study investigates the protective effects of Vitamin E and Melatonin against gamma ray-induced damage in rat testes. A total of 40 Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The first three groups were exposed to 360 cGy gamma radiation using a Cobalt-60 apparatus. After radiation exposure, the first group received Vitamin E (100 mg/kg/day), the second group received Melatonin (100 mg/kg/day), and the third group received 0.9% saline solution. The fourth group served as the control group and received only saline without radiation. Five days later, the rats' testes were removed and analyzed for Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histopathological damage. The Melatonin group showed no significant difference in MDA levels and tissue damage compared to the control group (p>0.05). However, in the Vitamin E and saline groups, both MDA levels and tissue damage were significantly increased (p<0.05). In conclusion, Melatonin demonstrated a strong protective effect by preventing free radical-mediated damage after radiation exposure. This protective effect was not observed with Vitamin E. Therefore, Melatonin may play a crucial role in preserving testicular function following radiation exposure.
