RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Varicocele is one of the major causes of infertility in men in which testicular function is progressively damaged. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of ghrelin on antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, SOD, GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) level and spermatogenesis cycle after induction of varicocele in rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: I-control group, II-rats with induced varicocele and injection of physiological saline and III-rats with induced varicocele and injection of ghrelin. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and their testes were removed. Antioxidant enzymes activity and MDA level were measured. Histopathological tests, Johnsen's score and sperm parameters were also evaluated. RESULTS: In varicocele group with ghrelin administration (group III), the levels of SOD (0.183 ± 0.024), GPX (9.4250 ± 0.103) and TAC (2.79 ± 0.464) increased significantly (p < 0.05), while MDA (0.304 ± 0.004) level decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with varicocele and normal saline group (II). There was no significant difference in the activity of catalase between group III (0.122 ± 0.018) and group II (0.108 ± 0.018), although ghrelin improved catalase activity in group III compared to group II. Also, in group III, there were significant increases in the Johnsen's score (7.920), sperm count (70.29 ± 5.82) and sperm viability (87.14 ± 5.21) compared with group II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ghrelin can improve the capacity of antioxidant enzymes to reduce the oxidative stress caused by varicocele and reduce spermatogenesis cycle. Therefore, special attention should be paid to ghrelin in studies evaluating antioxidant compounds in varicocele.