Effects of Pinealectomy and Melatonin Supplementation on Elements Metabolism in Rat Testicular Tissue

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how pinealectomy and melatonin application affect elements metabolism in rat testicular tissue. Methods: The study was carried out on 32 adult male Spraque-Dawley rats. Animals were divided into 4 equal groups. Group 1: Control, Group 2: Melatonin, Group 3: Pinealectomy, Group 4: Pinealectomy+Melatonin. Group 2 and 4 animals received daily 3mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip) melatonin supplementation for 4 weeks. The pineal glands of Group 3 and 4 animals were removed under general anesthesia. At the end of the applications, testicular tissue samples were taken from the animals sacrificed under general anesthesia. Elemental determinations (µg/gram/tissue) were performed in testicular tissue samples using the atomic emission method. Results: The highest cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, manganese, phosphorus, and sodium levels (p<0.001) and the lowest potassium levels in the testicular tissue were obtained in the pinealectomy group (group 3) (p<0.001). Magnesium and selenium values in testicular tissue were highest in the pinealectomy group (group 3) (p<0.001), and were higher in the pinealectomy+melatonin group (group 4) than ingroup 1 (control) and group 2 (melatonin) (p<0.001). Testicular zinc levels were highest in group 2, where melatonin was administered, and lowest in group 3, which was the pinealectomy group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings obtained as a result of the study show that pinealectomy significantly disrupts element metabolism in the testicular tissue of rats, and melatonin supplementation may have a regulatory effect on testicular elemental metabolism.