Effects of vitamin E and L-carnitine against methotrexate- induced injury in rat testis

Methotrexate (MTX), used commonly as an anti-metabolite drug in cancer therapy, leads to acute toxic side effects in rapidly divided cells containing tissue or organs such as bone marrow, gastrointestinal mucosa, and seminiferous tubules. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of vitamin E and L-carnitine against MTX-induced injury in rat testis. In this study, rats were divided in to 4 groups including control group. Vitamin E (250 mg/kg/day), L-carnitine (500 mg/kg/day), or placebo were administered to the rats for 17 days. MTX at 20 mg/kg was given intraperitoneally at day 3 and day 10 to all rats except controls. Weight loss, testicular weight loss and marked histological injuries, increased malondialdehyde and decreased superoxide dismutase levels were observed in only MTX-treated group. Vitamin E and L-carnitine treatments did not affect MTX-induced weight loss and testicular weight loss, but these drugs inhibited the MTX-induced testicular histological injuries. Vitamin E and L-carnitine treatments suppressed the increases in malondialdehyde levels and decreases in superoxide dismutase levels. In conclusion, vitamin E and L-carnitine treatments decrease the MTX-induced testicular histological injuries, and these results are supported with biochemical measurements. Key words: Testes, methotrexate, vitamin E, L-carnitine, rat