nnovative therapeutic strategy for autoimmune epididymo architis in rats: local injection of melatonin within thermosensitive PEO-PPO copolymers

MUNDURUCA PIRES THAISY; LIVIA LUSTIG; THEAS MARIA SUSANA; FERRER VIÑALS DENISSE; GONZÁLEZ LUCAS; GLISONI ROMINA; MAIO MARIA BELEN; GLIENKE LEILANE; PATRICIA JACOBO

MAR DEL PLATA

Congreso; LXVIII REUNIÓN ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INVESTIGACIÓN CLÍNICA (SAIC); 2023

SAIC

Experimental autoimmune epididymo-orchitis (EAO) is a well-established rodent model of organ-specific autoimmunity associated with infertility. In EAO oxidative stress negatively impacts on spermatogenesis. Our study aims to explore the potential of intratesticular injection of melatonin (MLT), an antioxidant hormone with poor solubility in aqueous medium, to ameliorate the effects of inflammation on epididymal sperm parameters. For this objective, we used Pluronic® F127, a biocompatible polymeric micelle (PMs) nanoplatform with in vivo thermosensitization seeking to optimize MLT delivery and availability within the testes. Two groups of adult male Wistar rats were evaluated: non-immunized (normal, N) and experimental rats which were immunized with testis homogenate and adjuvants to induce EAO. Rats received a single intratesticular injection of F127 25% (w/v) with MLT (2.5mg) or F127 25% (w/v) in saline (as control) and were sacrificed 10 days after. In EAO rats MLT prevents reduction in cauda sperm viability (% media±SEM, N+F127: 84,8±0,6; EAO+F127: 47,4±8,1; EAO+F127-MLT: 71,4±9,9 p