Effects of cisplatin and acacetin on total antioxidant status, apoptosis and expression of OCTN3 in mouse testis.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic medication that also exhibits toxic effects on normal cells. Acacetin (ACA) is an herbal compound that exhibits anticancer properties with few side effects. We investigated the use and side effects of ACA and cisplatin on the male reproductive system. Mature male mice were divided into six groups: control group treated with DMSO, cisplatin group treated with 1 mg/kg cisplatin and three ACA groups treated with 10, 25 or 50 mg/kg ACA. All treatments were applied for three days. A final experimental group was treated with 50 mg/kg ACA for 10 days. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), OCTN3 gene expression and apoptosis were measured in testis. TAC and OCTN3 gene expression were decreased, while ROS and apoptosis were increased in cisplatin group compared to other groups. All ACA groups exhibited decreased apoptosis and ROS levels, and increased TAC and OCTN3 gene expression compared to the cisplatin treated mice. ACA caused fewer adverse effects in testicular tissue than cisplatin. ACA appears to improve the oxidant-antioxidant system, accelerates cell regeneration and inhibits apoptosis.