Tüm Vücut Titreşiminin İmmobil Sıçanlarda Testis Morfolojisi ve Oksidatif Stres Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

Infertility is defined as the failure of a sexually active couple to achieve pregnancy despite one year of unprotected, regular sexual intercourse. Approximately 15% of couples are infertile and 50% of these are caused by a male factor alone or in combination with a female factor. In addition to well-defined factors such as varicocele, chemotherapeutic drugs, Klinefelter syndrome, it has been shown that various lifestyle factors (e.g. smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and psychological stress) can cause male infertility. A sedentary lifestyle is characterized by the absence of regular movement activities in the daily routine, and its negative effects on fertility are explained by the disruption of the antioxidant/oxidant balance and inflammatory processes. Oxidative stress (OS) causes a series of cellular reactions that result in DNA damage, and the testis and germ cells are highly susceptible to oxidative stress. The most important reason for this is that testicular cells contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. To prevent these negative effects of sedentary life, antioxidant therapies or exercises, which are cheaper and more convenient, are recommended. There are several studies in the literature showing that low and moderate intensity exercises positively affect OS balance. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is considered as an alternative exercise modality especially for sedentary individuals who cannot exercise regularly. In this study, we aimed to see the effects of sedentary life on testicular tissue by considering immobilization as a suitable physiological model that can mimic sedentary life. Thus, we predicted that TVT would act like low or moderate intensity exercise and have a positive effect on the reproductive system and testicular tissue, and thus the possible negative effects of sedentary life on testicular tissue could be prevented by adding whole body vibration. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of immobilization on histomorphological and oxidative stress in testicular tissue. At the same time, as a first in the literature, the effects of TVT on OS, apoptosis and serum hormone levels in testicular tissue of immobilized rats were investigated. A total of 32 rats in four different groups were included in the study. The groups were determined as Control (K), Immobilization (I), Immobilization/Vibration (IT) and Vibration (T). The rats were euthanized at the end of the experimental procedures under deep anesthesia and both testes were isolated and stored in 80 ̊C freezer. Although there was no statistically significant difference between histomorphological changes and apoptosis, OS and hormone levels in the immobilization group, it was observed that immobilization decreased germinal epithelial thickness by disrupting the antioxidant balance, increased the number of apoptotic tubules, and consequently decreased hormone levels. At the same time, it was shown that TVT application could prevent these negative effects clinically, although not statistically, in the Immobilization / Vibration group.