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Protective effects of exogenous melatonin therapy against oxidative stress to male reproductive tissue caused by anti-cancer chemical and radiation therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies.

Frontiers in endocrinology
January 1, 2023
Niloofar Dehdari Ebrahimi et al. (9 authors)
Meta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewJournal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to systematically review melatonin's protective effects on rodent testicular tissue exposed to anti-cancer stressors, including radioactive iodine.

Results Summary

Melatonin therapy significantly improved testicular histopathology, reproductive hormones, oxidative stress markers, and weight-related characteristics in rodents exposed to anti-cancer treatments, including radioactive iodine.

Population

Male rodents (rats and mice) exposed to radiotherapy (including radioactive iodine) or chemotherapy.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (29)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin therapy
increase
sperm quantity and quality
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#1
melatonin therapy
increase
sperm count
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#2
melatonin therapy
increase
sperm motility
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#3
melatonin therapy
increase
sperm viability
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#4
melatonin therapy
increase
sperm normal morphology
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#5
melatonin therapy
increase
number of spermatogonia
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#6
melatonin therapy
increase
Johnsen's testicular biopsy score
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#7
melatonin therapy
increase
seminiferous tubular diameter
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#8
melatonin therapy
increase
seminiferous epithelial height
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#9
melatonin therapy
increase
serum level of reproductive hormones
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#10
melatonin therapy
increase
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#11
melatonin therapy
increase
testosterone
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#12
melatonin therapy
decrease
tissue markers of oxidative stress
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#13
melatonin therapy
decrease
testicular tissue malondialdehyde
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#14
melatonin therapy
increase
superoxide dismutase
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#15
melatonin therapy
increase
glutathione peroxidase
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#16
melatonin therapy
increase
catalase
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#17
melatonin therapy
increase
glutathione
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#18
melatonin therapy
decrease
caspase-3
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#19
melatonin therapy
increase
total antioxidant capacity
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#20
melatonin therapy
increase
weight-related characteristics
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#21
melatonin therapy
increase
absolute body weight
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#22
melatonin therapy
increase
epididymis weight
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#23
melatonin therapy
increase
testis weight
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#24
melatonin therapy
increase
relative testis to body weight
male rodents
-
significantly improved
#25
melatonin therapy
increase
testicular histopathology
male rodents
-
related to improved
#26
melatonin therapy
increase
reproductive hormones
male rodents
-
related to improved
#27
melatonin therapy
increase
testis and body weights
male rodents
-
related to improved
#28
melatonin therapy
decrease
oxidative markers in testicular tissues
male rodents
-
related to reduced levels
#29
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Male testicular dysfunction is a considerable complication of anti-cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, partly due to the increased oxidative stress caused by these treatments. Melatonin is an effective antioxidant agent that protects testicles against physical and toxic chemical stressors in animal models. This study aims to systematically review the melatonin's protective effects against anti-cancer stressors on rodential testicular tissue. MATERIALS AND METHOD: An extensive search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed for animal studies investigating exogenous melatonin's protective effects on rodent testicles exposed to anti-cancer chemicals and radiotherapeutic agents. Using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effect model, standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were estimated from the pooled data. The protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42022355293). RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 38 studies from 43 studies that were eligible for the review. Rats and mice were exposed to radiotherapy (ionizing radiations such as gamma- and roentgen radiation and radioactive iodine) or chemotherapy (methotrexate, paclitaxel, busulfan, cisplatin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, Taxol, procarbazine, docetaxel, and chlorambucil). According to our meta-analysis, all outcomes were significantly improved by melatonin therapy, including sperm quantity and quality (count, motility, viability, normal morphology, number of spermatogonia, Johnsen's testicular biopsy score, seminiferous tubular diameter, and seminiferous epithelial height), serum level of reproductive hormones (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and testosterone), tissue markers of oxidative stress (testicular tissue malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione, caspase-3, and total antioxidant capacity), and weight-related characteristics (absolute body, epididymis, testis, and relative testis to body weights). Most SYRCLE domains exhibited a high risk of bias in the included studies. Also, significant heterogeneity and small-study effects were detected. CONCLUSION: In male rodents, melatonin therapy was related to improved testicular histopathology, reproductive hormones, testis and body weights, and reduced levels of oxidative markers in testicular tissues of male rodents. Future meticulous studies are recommended to provide a robust scientific backbone for human applications. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022355293, identifier CRD42022355293.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansMaleAnimalsRatsMiceMelatoninAntioxidantsIodine RadioisotopesSemenThyroid NeoplasmsOxidative StressBody Weight
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality78/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations8
Citations/Year4.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.77
NIH Percentile83.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score1.37
Normalized Score0.70
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