Şener, GökselKanpalta, FatmaOzbeyli, DilekSen, AliCevik, OzgeSener, GokselErcan, FerihaEczacılık Meslek Bilimleri Bölümü2025-01-112025-01-11202141309-946910.5472/marumj.988941https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.988941https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14627/147Sener, Goksel/0000-0001-7444-6193; Ercan, Feriha/0000-0003-2339-5669; Cevik, Ozge/0000-0002-9325-3757; Kanpalta Mustafaoglu, Fatma/0000-0001-9832-6938; Sen, Ali/0000-0002-2144-5741Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug commonly used for the treatment of malign neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bitter melon (BM) were reported. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of BM fruit extract on MTX-induced testicular and epididymal damage. Materials and Methods: Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into three groups (n=8) as control, MTX and MTX+BM. A single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to the MTX and MTX+BM groups. BM fruit extract (600 mg/kg) was applied to the MTX+BM group orally for 5 days. Testes were examined for general histopathology, proliferating and apoptotic cells. The epididymis samples were used for the evaluation of sperm morphology. Oxidative and inflammatory markers were analysed biochemically. Results: Increased abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated seminiferous tubules with increased apoptotic cells and decreased proliferative cells were observed in the MTX group. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and caspase-3 levels increased, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels decreased in both testis and epididymis samples. All these histological and biochemical parameters were ameliorated in the MTX+BM group. Conclusion: Methotrexate causes testis damage by decreasing spermatogenic cells and increasing apoptosis through oxidative stress and inflammation. BM extract improves testis and epididymis damage with its possible anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessMethotrexateBitter MelonTestisEpididymisOxidative StressArticleQ4343222228WOS:000715083000001