Ratlarda Akrilamid İle İndüklenen Testiküler Toksikasyonda Melatoninin FSH/LH/Testosteron ve StAR/P450scc/17β-HSD3 Yolakları Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

Akrilamid (ACR), oksidatif stres ve üreme toksisitesine neden olduğu bilinen yüksek sıcaklıkta gıda işleme sırasında oluşan toksik bir bileşiktir. Bu çalışmada, hormonal düzenleme ve steroidojenik yollara odaklanılarak melatoninin (MEL) ACR kaynaklı testis toksisitesi üzerindeki koruyucu etkileri araştırılmıştır. 40 yetişkin erkek Wistar sıçanı beş gruba ayrılmıştır: kontrol, ACR (50 mg/kg), ACR+MEL10 (ACR + 10 mg/kg MEL), ACR+MEL20 (ACR + 20 mg/kg MEL) ve MEL20 (sadece 20 mg/kg MEL). Tedaviler 14 gün boyunca intragastrik gavaj yoluyla uygulanmıştır. Serum folikül uyarıcı hormon (FSH), luteinize edici hormon (LH) ve testosteron seviyeleri, testis steroidojenik enzim seviyeleri (StAR, P450scc, 17β-HSD3) ile birlikte ELISA yoluyla ölçülmüştür. Histopatolojik analiz, Johnsen puanlaması yoluyla spermatogenik bütünlüğü değerlendirmek için kullanıldı. ACR maruziyeti serum FSH, LH ve testosteron seviyelerini önemli ölçüde düşürdü (p< .001), StAR, P450scc ve 17β-HSD3 ekspresyonunda eş zamanlı bir azalma oldu. Histolojik değerlendirme şiddetli spermatosit dejenerasyonu, nekroz ve bozulmuş spermatogenez olduğunu ortaya koydu. MEL uygulaması bu etkileri doza bağlı bir şekilde iyileştirdi. ACR+MEL10 hormonal ve enzimatik seviyelerin kısmi restorasyonuyla sonuçlandı (p< .05), oysa ACR+MEL20 bu parametreleri kontrol seviyelerine yakın seviyelere geri getirdi (p> .05). MEL ayrıca histopatolojik hasarı hafifletti, seminifer tübül bütünlüğünü ve spermatogenik işlevi korudu. Bu bulgular, MEL'in antioksidan ve antiapoptotik etkileriyle ACR kaynaklı testis toksisitesine karşı koruyucu etkiler gösterdiğini, steroidojenik enzim aktivitesini ve hormonal dengeyi geri kazandırdığını göstermektedir. MEL takviyesi, erkek üreme sağlığını etkileyen çevresel toksik maddelere karşı potansiyel bir tedavi stratejisi olabilir. Tam koruyucu kapsamını açıklamak için daha fazla mekanik çalışma yapılması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Akrilamid toksisitesi
• Melatonin koruması
• Oksidatif stres
• Testiküler steroidogenez
• Üreme toksisitesi.

Effects of Melatonin on FSH/LH/Testosterone and StAR/P450scc/17β-HSD3 Pathways in Acrylamide-Induced Testicular Toxication in Rats

Abstract

Acrylamide (ACR) is a toxic compound formed during high-temperature food processing that is known to induce oxidative stress and reproductive toxicity. This study investigated the protective effects of melatonin (MEL) on ACR-induced testicular toxicity, with a focus on hormonal regulation and steroidogenic pathways. Forty adults male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, ACR (50 mg/kg), ACR+MEL10 (ACR + 10 mg/kg MEL), ACR+MEL20 (ACR + 20 mg/kg MEL), and MEL20 (20 mg/kg MEL alone). Treatments were administered via intragastric gavage for 14 days. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels were measured via ELISA, alongside testicular steroidogenic enzyme levels (StAR, P450scc, 17β-HSD3). Histopathological analysis was used to assess spermatogenic integrity via Johnsen scoring. ACR exposure significantly reduced the serum FSH, LH, and testosterone levels (p< .001), with a concurrent decrease in StAR, P450scc, and 17β-HSD3 expression. Histological evaluation revealed severe spermatocyte degeneration, necrosis, and disrupted spermatogenesis. MEL administration ameliorated these effects in a dose-dependent manner. ACR+MEL10 resulted in partial restoration of hormonal and enzymatic levels (p< .05), whereas ACR+MEL20 restored these parameters to near-control levels (p> .05). MEL also mitigated histopathological damage, preserving seminiferous tubule integrity and spermatogenic function. These findings suggest that MEL exerts protective effects against ACR-induced testicular toxicity through its antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects, restoring steroidogenic enzyme activity and the hormonal balance. MEL supplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy against environmental toxicants affecting male reproductive health. Further mechanistic studies are warranted to elucidate its full protective scope.

Keywords

• Keywords: Acrylamide toxicity
• Melatonin protection
• Oxidative stress
• Reproductive toxicity
• Testicular steroidogenesis

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was received for this study from the ‘’Local Ethics Committee of Atatürk University Animal Experiments’’ (Protocol Date:10/03/2025-Protocol Number: 59/2025)

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