| Abstrakt: |
Introduction: Autoimmune orchitis as a chronic inflammation leads to apoptosis in testicular germ cells causing serious tissue destruction. This study was executed to probe the effects of simvastatin (SIM) on experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO)-induced apoptotic alterations in BALB/c mice testicular tissue. Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, 36 adult male mice were randomly divided into six equal groups including untreated, SIM (20 mg/kg/day; orally for 5 weeks), antigen (100 µL; subcutaneously), and Bordetella pertussis (109 bacteria at the day of antigen injection and 48 hours later; intraperitoneally) control groups, EAO and EAO + SIM. The EAO was induced through testicular homogenate plus complete Freund’s adjuvant plus B. pertussis injection. All animals were euthanized after 5 weeks and testicular caspase 3 and Bcl-2 levels using immunohistochemical analyses as well as testicular total anti-oxidant capacity (TTAC) were determined. Results: The EAO respectively resulted in significant elevation and reduction in testicular caspase 3 and Bcl-2 levels along with a marked decrease in TTAC compared to control, SIM, antigen, and B. pertussis groups; while SIM co-administration caused notable amelioration of EAO-induced reproductive impairments. Conclusions: These findings suggest that SIM may have significant repro-protective activity against EAO-related apoptotic alterations in BALB/c mice testicular tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
