| Summary: | Objective: This study was performed to investigate
the effects of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) on matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp-2 and
Mmp-9) immunoreactivity in testicular tissue of diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: 28 male
rats were allocated into four groups n (7); No treatment was applied to Control
group. Diabetes was induced upon injection of a single dose streptozocin 50
mg/kg intraperitoneally on diabetes group (DM). N-Acetylcysteine group (NAC) and
following diabetes development, Diabetic
+ NAC groups were treated with i.p.100 mg/kg NAC daily. Oxidative damage was
evaluated with Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Total Oxidant Status (TOS)
activities while the testicular damage was determined by histopathological evaluation
and immunohistochemical assessment of MMP-2 and MMP-9 at the testicular
tissues.
Results: TAS
levels were found to be increased in diabetic NAC-treated group animals
whereas TOS, MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were
decreased in the same group. For the histological findings, there were no
testicular changes In
the NAC alone control group whereas the alterations such as marked degeneration,
vacuole formation and basement membrane thickening of tubules seminiferus
contortus were observed in the testicular tissues of the DM group. But, in the
treatment group DM+NAC, these alterations were found to be comparatively
decreased.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that administration of
NAC minimize testicular damage in diabetic rats and might be a potential
candidate to reduce/eliminate the negative effects of diabetes on the
testicular tissue.
|
|---|