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. 2017 Dec 27;61(4):509-515.
doi: 10.1515/jvetres-2017-0064. eCollection 2017 Dec.

Effect of Amifostine on Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Testes after Radioiodine Treatment

Cigdem Cebi Sen  1 , Nihat Yumusak  2 , Hasan Ikbal Atilgan  3 , Murat Sadic  4 , Gokhan Koca  4 , Meliha Korkmaz  4
Affiliations

Effect of Amifostine on Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Testes after Radioiodine Treatment

Cigdem Cebi Sen et al. J Vet Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: Radioactive iodine (RAI) is commonly used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease or thyroid nodules. However, information available on the impact of RAI therapy on male gonadal function is scarce. This study aimed to determine any possible damage to testicular tissue and sperm quality caused by RAI therapy, and the radioprotective effect of amifostine against such damage.

Material and methods: In total, 36 rats were randomly allocated to three groups, including a control group, RAI group (111 MBq Iodine-131), and RAI + amifostine group (111 MBq Iodine-131 and a single dose of 200 mg/kg amifostine). Blood and epididymal sperm samples were taken for hormone analyses and the evaluation of spermatological parameters. The TUNEL assay and haematoxylin-eosin were used to stain testicular tissue samples to detect histological changes and apoptosis.

Results: The groups differed insignificantly for the testicular mass index and spermatozoa concentration. However, spermatozoa motility and percentage of viable spermatozoa were higher in the RAI + amifostine group, compared to the RAI group. Sperm DNA fragmentation and the index of apoptotic germ cells significantly decreased in the amifostine group, in comparison to the radioiodine group. While the testosterone levels showed no significant change, the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels significantly decreased in the RAI + amifostine group.

Conclusion: All histopathological parameters and some spermatological parameters showed that RAI therapy caused statistically significant damage of testicular tissue and this damage was reduced by amifostine.

Keywords: amifostine; apoptosis; radioiodine; sperm DNA; testes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(a) Sperm cells with DNA fragmentation seen with the halo structure surrounding the head (black arrow). Sperm cells with no DNA fragmentation seen without the halo structure surrounding the head (red arrow); (b) Fluorescent staining of rat spermatozoa with SYBR/PI method (green-fluoresced denote live spermatozoa with intact membranes (red arrow), red-fluoresced indicate dead spermatozoa (white arrow) 200×; (c) RAI group: severe germinal cell loss (red arrow) and detachment of seminiferous tubules (black arrow), H E, 400×; (d) RAI + amifostine group: mild detachment in seminiferous tubules (black arrow), H E, 400×; (e) RAI group: TUNEL positive intensive apoptotic Leydig cells (red arrow), TUNEL positive apoptotic germ cells (black arrow), 400×; (f) RAI + amifostine group: TUNEL positive a few apoptotic cells in Leydig (red arrow) and germ cells (black arrow), 400×
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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