O-13: Exogen Melatonin Protects SpermatogenicCells from Apoptosis in Mouse underChemotherapy

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective role of melatonin on the apoptosis of germ cells in chemotherapy-induced spermiotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Male adult NMRI mice were divided into four groups. Then each group were divided into two subgroups of a and b. Group 1 (control): mice received vehicle (ethanol 1%) for 5 days; Group2 (Busulfan): mice received a single dose of 20 mg/kg busulfan. Group 3 (Melatonin) mice: received melatonin (10 mg/kg) for 5 days. Group 4 (Busulfan+Melatonin): received a 5-day course of melatonin (10 mg/kg) following an initial dose of busulfan (20 mg/kg). Evaluationswere made using in situ TUNEL assay after 5 days( a- Abstracts of the 11th Royan International Congress on Reproductive Biomedicine 3 5 International Journal of Fertility & Sterility (IJFS), Vol 4, Suppl 1, Summer 2010 subgroup) or 35 days(b-subgroup) and assay of plasma testosterone.Results: Busulfan-treated mice both in a and b-subgroups, showed a significant increase in the numbers of apoptotic cells (p