Abstract:

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.

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