Effects of amnion membrane derived mesenchymal stem cells on oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress mechanisms in X- irradiation induced testicular damage

Today, infertility affects 15% of couples and half of this rate is due to reproductive problems in men. Oxidative stress caused by excessive increase of reactive oxygen species plays a role in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced male infertility. In eukaryotic cells, the endoplasmic reticulum is the main organelle for folding proteins. Environmental trauma often causes the wrong folding of proteins or unfolded proteins in the organelle, and their accumulation causes endoplasmic reticulum stress. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen types affect the activity of endoplasmic reticulum chaperones and increase endoplasmic reticulum stress. Stem cells are cells that have multiple roles in maintaining normal development and adult tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells provide regeneration of cells with limited lifespan, thus ensuring the integrity of organs and regeneration of damaged tissues by responding to damage. In this study, the effect of mesenchymal stem cells to be obtained from the amniotic membrane on testicular damage induced by ionizing radiation is aimed to be elucidated through oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress mechanisms. After applying mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium to irradiated rats, endoplasmic reticulum stress, MAPK and apoptosis markers were examined. mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, apoptosis, serum FSH, LH and 8-OHdG levels, which increase with irradiation. Serum and testicular testosterone levels increased. Thus, it can be said that mesenchymal stem cells derived from placental amniotic membrane can improve ionic radiation-induced testicular damage by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress.