Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the negative effects of cigarette on testicular biochemistry and histology of rats and to evaluate if resveratrol could alter these effects. 

Materials and methods: Thirty-two male Wistar Albino rats were divided into 4 grups for an experiment of 6 weeks. Group 1 was used as control; Group 2 was only exposed to cigarette smoke. Group 3 only received intraperitoneal injections of resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day). Group 4 was exposed to both cigarette smoke and resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day). At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrified and testes of all rats were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured on testicular tissue and histopathologic examination was performed with light microscope.

Results: Weight follow-up of rats revealed no significant difference among groups. MDA level was lower in cigarette smoke and resveratrol group than that of only cigarette smoke group. GSH level showed significant decrease in only cigarette smoke group, while GSH level increased in cigarette smoke and resveratrol group. Differences in NO levels were not statisticaly significant among groups. The histological evaluation revealed that Johnsen score which indicates spermatogenesis was significantly lower only in cigarette smoke rats than all other groups.

Conclusion: Oxidative stress develops in testis of rats that were exposed to cigarette smoke, and resveratrol has preventive effects on this damage with direct or indirect antioxidant activity.