Introduction: Chemotherapy may result in temporary or permanent gonadal toxicity in male patients. Loss of fertility potential can be devastating to patients, especially, during the child-bearing period.
Aim of Work: The present study was planned to investigate the possible protective effect of melatonin, in a rat model of cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity.
Materials and Methods: Forty five adult male albino rats (180-200 grams each) were divided into four groups; Group I Control (n=15) received 0.9% sodium chloride and/or distilled water as a vehicle. Group II (n=10) were injected intraperitoneally (I.P.) with a single dose 7 mg/kg of cisplatin& were sacrificed after 10 days. Group III (n=10) received melatonin daily orally at a dose of 8 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Group IV (n=10); oral melatonin administration started 5 days before the single I.P. injection of cisplatin, followed by continuation of melatonin for further 10 days. Testicular sections were subjected to H&E, immunohistochemical staining for anti-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and anti-androgen receptor (AR).
Results: The study proved the protective effect of melatonin against testicular toxicity, when administered prior to and concomitant with cisplatin therapy; confirming the anti-oxidant potential of melatonin.
Conclusion: Our findings provide experimental evidence ensuring the protective effect of melatonin, when administered prior to, and concomitant with the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Meanwhile, melatonin administered alone seemed to induce injury to the testis.