Photobiomodulatory Effects of Low-Power Pulsed Laser on Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Inflammatory Responses in the Testicular Tissue of Cisplatin-Treated Adult Male Mice.

Introduction

Cisplatin is widely used as a key treatment for solid tumors. Despite being a highly effective chemotherapy, the use of cisplatin is restricted by several side effects during treatment, such as germ cell depletion and testicular atrophy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has emerged as a promising strategy for tissue repair. The present study seeks to assess the effects of PBM on improving antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses in the testicular tissue of adult male mice subjected to cisplatin treatment.

Methods

Twenty-four adult male NMRI mice were randomly assigned to three groups (n=8 each): an untreated Control group (Cont), an Injury group that received a solitary intraperitoneal (IP) injection of Cisplatin at 7 mg/kg (Cis), and a Treatment group that received Laser treatment at 4 J/cm2 following the Cisplatin injection (Treat). Subsequently, the testes and epididymides were extracted. The right testis was designated for histological and stereological analysis, while the left testis was preserved at -80 °C for molecular and biochemical assessments.

Results

PBM conferred notable protective effects after treatment, significantly improving the total sperm count and sperm motility in the Treat group (P≤0.0001). Following laser irradiation, a marked reduction in the TNF-α and IL-1β levels was observed in the Treat group (P=0.0008, P≤0.0001). Moreover, there was a significant rise in the expression of the Bcl-2 gene in the Treat group (P=0.0004).

Conclusion

Notwithstanding the constraints of the current research, this study endorses the translational potential of PBM and establishes a robust basis for forthcoming investigations in the domain of toxicology and laser-assisted therapies.