protective effects of melatonin on testis histology following acute torsion-detorsion in rats

Background: testicular damage due to spermatic cord torsion may lead to infertility. it is probably because of changes in oxidative stress factors such as malondialdehyde. objective: to investigate the protective effect of melatonin (mlt), as an antioxidant, on testicular damage induced by acute unilateral spermatic cord torsion and detorsion (t/d) in rats. materials and methods: in this experimental study, 48 adult male wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (8 rats/group): sham group underwent right scrotal surgery only., the t/d group underwent right testicular torsion (for 1 hr) and detorsion, and the melatonin group underwent right testicular torsion, received 25 μg/kg melatonin intraperitoneally immediately after surgery of t/d. then the histological parameters and malondialdehyde (mda) changes were evaluated. results: torsion and detorsion decreased the diameter of the tubules significantly compared to controls (p=0.003). melatonin could increase the diameter, but it was not significant (p=0.26). the heights of the epithelium were constant in sham, t/d, and melatonin groups without any significant difference between groups (p=0.98). based on johnsen’s score, spermatogenesis was normal in the sham group. the torsion significantly injured all lineage cells (p<0.001). there was no any spermatid or sperm in the seminiferous tubules. melatonin improved the spermatogenesis significantly (p=0.02), but could not improve mda level significantly (p=0.99). conclusion: severe degenerative changes of testis were induced by acute unilateral spermatic cord torsion and detorsion in rats, but it had no effect on mda level.