Anti-Apoptotic Actions of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Testes in Experimental Formaldehyde Intoxication: An Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract

Objective: In this study, which we have performed immunohistochemically, it was aimed to investigate effects of formaldehyde toxicity on the testes, especially on apoptotic changes. Potential antioxidant effects of omega-3 fatty acids against these toxic effects were also evaluated. Materials and Methods: A total of 21 adult male Wistar-albino rats used in our study were divided into three equal groups. Rats in group I were used as control. Rats in group II were injected intraperitoneally with formaldehyde every other day while the other ones received omega-3 fatty acids daily via intragastric gavage (Marincap capsule®) with injections of formaldehyde. At the end of two-week experimental period, all animals were killed by decapitation and their testes were removed. For light microscopic examination, tissue specimens were embedded in paraffin blocks following routine histological procedures. Section obtained from paraffin blocks stained with Bax protein immunohistochemically for the determination of apoptosis. The intensity of immunohistochemical Bax stain within cell cytoplasm was scored semi-quantitatively. Results: it was found an intensive immunohistochemical Bax staining in tissue specimens of formaldehyde-exposed rats, while no staining was seen in tissue sections of control testes. On the other hand, immunohistochemical Bax staining was observed minimally in tissue sections of testes of rats administered with formaldehyde plus omega-3 fatty acids. Conclusion: According to results of this study performed immunohistochemically, omega-3 fatty acids prevent apoptosis caused by formaldehyde in the testes. ©2008, Firat University, Medical Faculty

Keywords

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Deneysel Formaldehit Zehirlenmesinde Omega-3 Yağ Asitlerinin Testislerdeki Antiapopitotik Etkileri: İmmunohistokimyasal Bir Çalışma

Öz

Amaç: İmmunohistokimyasal düzeyde yapmış olduğumuz bu araştırmada, testiküler doku üzerindeki formaldehit toksisitesinin özellikle apoptozis yönüyle incelenmesi amaçlandı. Ayrıca, bu toksisiteye karşı omega-3 yağ asitlerinin muhtemel koruyucu etkileri de değerlendirildi. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmamızda kullanılan toplam 21 adet Wistar-Albino cinsi erkek sıçanlar üç eşit gruba ayrıldı. Grup I (n=7)'deki sıçanlar kontrol olarak kullanıldı. Grup II (n=7)'deki hayvanlara gün aşırı olarak ve de intraperitoneal yolla formaldehit enjekte edildi. Grup III (n=7)'deki sıçanlara ise formaldehit enjeksiyonu ile birlikte intragastrik gavaj yoluyla ve günlük olarak omega-3 yağ asiti (Marincap kapsül®) verildi. İki haftalık deney süresi sonunda bütün sıçanlar dekapite edilerek testisleri çıkartıldı. Mikroskobik incelemeler için, testis doku örnekleri rutin histolojik prosedürlerden geçirilerek parafine gömüldü. Elde edilen parafin bloklardan alınan kesitler apoptozis varlığının belirlenmesi amacıyla immunohistokimyasal olarak Bax proteini ile boyandı. Hücre sitoplazmalarında gözlenen immunohistokimyasal Bax boyanmasının şiddeti semi- kantitatif olarak derecelendirildi. Bulgular: Kontrol grubu sıçanlarına ait testis doku kesitlerinde herhangi bir Bax boyanması gözlenmezken, formaldehite maruz kalan gruba ait doku preparatlarında şiddetli derecede immunohistokimyasal Bax boyanmasının olduğu tespit edildi. Formaldehit enjeksiyonu ile birlikte omega-3 yağ asitleri verilen sıçanlara ait testis doku kesitlerinde ise immunohistokimyasal Bax boyanmasının minimal derecede olduğu görüldü. Sonuç: İmmunohistokimyasal olarak gerçekleştirilen bu çalışma bulgularına göre, omega-3 yağ asitleri formaldehitin testislerde neden olduğu apoptozisi önlemektedir. ©2008, Fırat Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Omega-3 Yağ Asitleri, Formaldehit, Testis, Apoptozis, İmmunohistokimya

Kaynakça

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37. Kabul Tarihi:23.07.2008