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Effect of intra-testicular melatonin injection on testicular functions, local and general immunity of a tropical rodent Funambulus pennanti

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Abstract

Local antigonadotrophic action of melatonin in testes has never been correlated with local and general immune status of any rodent. Intra-testicular injection of melatonin (2.5 μg/50 μl) for 10 days (MI-10D) and 20 days (MI-20D) was given to young adult male of Funambulus pennanti and testicular androgen receptor (AR), androgen binding protein (ABP) expression, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) activity, and Mel1aR expression in thymus was checked along with general immune parameters. Further, immunohistochemical localization of Mel1aR in testes was done. Decreased AR, ABP expression, testes weight, 3β-HSD activity, testosterone level, and spermatogenesis but increased Mel1aR expression in thymus, immunoreactivity in testes, and testicular macrophages following injection was noted. Lymphatic tissue weight, leukocyte, lymphocyte count, lymphocyte proliferation in spleen, thymus, plasma melatonin, and IL-2 level increased in a duration-dependent manner following intra-testicular injection. Intra-testicular injection of melatonin decreased steroidogenesis by enhancing the primary effect of melatonin on Leydig cell endocrine function. Along with reduced circulatory testosterone production, an increase in testicular as well as general immunity was observed in a duration-dependent manner. Therefore, a local participation of melatonin in testes of F. pennanti to control testicular androgen production is suggested.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank to Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, for financial support as Junior Research Fellow to Raise Ahmad. Instrument gift by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany, is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Pineal Research lab, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Raise Ahmad & Chandana Haldar

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  1. Raise Ahmad
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  2. Chandana Haldar
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Correspondence to Chandana Haldar.

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Ahmad, R., Haldar, C. Effect of intra-testicular melatonin injection on testicular functions, local and general immunity of a tropical rodent Funambulus pennanti . Endocr 37, 479–488 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-010-9331-7

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