Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS, cilt.30, sa.5, ss.962-977, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Abamectin is one of the most widely used pesticides due to its strong insecticidal and anthelmintic activities. Melatonin is a neurohormone with
potent antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the potential ameliorative effects of melatonin
against abamectin-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: control group (1 mL/kg/day corn oil),
melatonin-treated group (10 mg/kg/day), abamectin-treated group (0.5 mg/kg/day), and melatonin plus abamectin-treated group. Test
substances were administered via oral gavage once daily for 28 days. While MDA and 8-OHdG levels increased in the testicular tissue of rats
treated with abamectin, SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST enzyme activities decreased significantly. While interleukin-17 levels, TNF-α, and caspase3
expression increased in the testicular tissue, acetylcholinesterase activity decreased. At the same time, serum gonadotropins (luteinizing and
follicle-stimulating hormones) and testosterone levels decreased. Light microscope examinations of testicular tissues revealed severe
histopathological changes, such as atrophic hyalinized seminiferous tubules, basement membrane irregularity, degeneration, spermatogenic
cell loss, and necrosis. Electron microscopy examinations revealed large vacuoles in Sertoli and spermatogenic cells, swelling and
vacuolization in mitochondria, lysosomal structures, and increased pyknotic nuclei. In contrast, melatonin supplementation significantly
ameliorated abamectin-induced testicular toxicity in rats through antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.