Melatonin prevents and ameliorates lead-induced gonadotoxicity through antioxidative and hormonal mechanisms
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Date
2018-04-03
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Taxicology And Industrial Health
Abstract
We investigated the effects of melatonin on sperm parameters and some biochemical markers in lead-
exposed male Wistar rats. Lead (50 mg/kg bw/day) and/or melatonin (4 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg bw/day) was
administered for 4 weeks, while 2-week lead exposure was preceded by or followed by 2-week treatment
with both doses of melatonin in other groups. Lead reduced glutathione, catalase, adjusted testes weight,
semen parameters but did not change malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione
peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity. Though independent of prolactin, lead-induced gonadotoxicity
was both centrally and peripherally mediated, as it reduced gonadotropin-releasing hormone and testos-
terone levels, while gonadotropin levels did not change significantly probably due to negative feedback by
elevated estradiol. However, pre-, simultaneous, or posttreatment of lead-exposed rats with melatonin
reduced MDA, SOD, and estradiol but dose-dependently increased other parameters. Conclusively, lead
causes male gonadotoxicity through oxidative stress and endocrine mechanisms, and these could be dose-
dependently prevented and ameliorated by melatonin.
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Gonadotoxicity, lead, melatonin, oxidative stress, reproductive hormone, sperm