Effect of exogenous melatonin administration on spermatogenesis in chronic unpredictable stress rat model

Stress is one of the inevitable ingredients of modern life. Studies show the damaging effects of stress on the male reproductive system. Melatonin is a circadian rhythm molecule with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic as well as strong antioxidant effects. This study investigated the hormonal, inflammatory, and oxidant-antioxidant effects of exogenous melatonin on spermatogenesis under stress conditions. For this purpose, 40 male rats were divided in 5 groups (Control, Vehicle, Melatonin, Stress, Stress+Melatonin) (n=8). Chronic unpredictable stress model was applied to stress groups, and oral melatonin was administered to melatonin groups. In our study, stress is associated with spermatological (motility, dead and abnormal sperm), hormonal (FSH, LH, testosterone, corticosterone, melatonin), testicular oxidant-antioxidant (MDA, GSH, GSH-Px, Catalase) and inflammatory (NF-κB, TNF- α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) parameters were statistically different from the control group, while melatonin caused statistically significant decreases in inflammatory and oxidant parameters and an increase in spermatological parameters (p<0.05). As a result of this study, melatonin caused improvements in spermatological parameters with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory aspects in testicular tissue under stress conditions. In future studies, the effects of melatonin on sperm cells will be in place for further molecular analysis.