Ghrelin is a suppressor of testicular damage following experimentally induced cryptorchidism in the rat.

BACKGROUND

Cryptorchidism is associated with increased level of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. This study was undertaken to examine the possible ghrelin ability in attenuation of testicular damage in response to elevated temperature.

METHODS

Thirty male rats were subdivided into sham-operated, cryptorchidism-saline and cryptorchidism-ghrelin group. Bilateral cryptorchidism was induced in groups 2 and 3, surgically. The animals in group 3 were given ghrelin for 7 days and all testes were taken for biochemical and photomicrograph analysis.

RESULTS

Glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione content significantly promoted on day 7 in the cryptorchid rats treated by ghrelin. Catalase activity was higher in the ghrelin-exposed animals than the cryptorchidism-saline group on both experimental days. Although superoxide dismutase activity was elevated by ghrelin treatment on both days, it did not differ significantly. By contrast, significant reduction was observed in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentrations following ghrelin administration on day 7. Moreover, ghrelin could improve histopathological scores of the testes, and diminished formation of giant cells and tubular vacuolization.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate for the first time the novel evidence of ghrelin antioxidant properties in attenuation of rat testicular injury following experimentally induced cryptorchidism.