The Protective effects of melatonin hormone on morhpological changes induced by exposure of formaldehyde in rats.

SUMMARYIn our study, toxic effects of formaldehyde on testicular tissue and protective effects ofmelatonin hormone against these toxic effects were investigated at biochemical andimmunohistochemical levels.For this purpose, 21 male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into three groups. Rats ingroup I were used as control. Rats in group II were injected every other day withformaldehyde. Rats in group III were administered melatonin with injection of formaldehyde.At the end of one month experimental period, all rats were killed by decapitation. Then thetestes of rats were removed and dissected from the surrounding tissue. The activites ofsuperoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the levels ofmalondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in the some of testicular tissue specimens by usingspectrophotometric methods. The remaining testicular tissue specimens were used forimmunohistochemical examination.The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly decreased, and MDA levelswere significantly increased in rats treated with formaldehyde compared to control.Additionally, apoptotic changes were occurred in testicular tissue after exposure offormaldehyde. It was seen that increase of SOD and GSH-Px enzyme activities and decreaseof MDA levels in rats administered melatonin with exposure of formaldehyde. Furthermore,apoptotic changes caused by formaldehyde were regressed in this group.In conclusion, it was determined that oxidative damage and apoptosis in testiculartissue caused by exposure of formaldehyde were suppressed by administration of melatonin.