Öztürk, AhmetBaltacı, Abdülkerim KasımBediz, Cem ŞerefMoğulkoç, RasimGüngör, Salim2020-03-262020-03-262003Öztürk, A., Baltacı, A. K., Bediz, C. Ş., Moğulkoç, R., Güngör, S., (2003). Effects of Zinc and Melatonin Deficiency on Testicular Tissue of Rats. Biological Trace Element Research, (96), 255-262. Doi: 10.1385/BTER:96:1-3:2550163-4984https://dx.doi.org/10.1385/BTER:96:1-3:255https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12395/18457The present study was designed to investigate the effects of zinc and/or melatonin deficiency on rat testes. A total of 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study The rats were divided into four groups of six rats each, as follows: (I) controls, (II) zinc deficient, (III) pinealectomized, zinc normal, and (IV) pinealectomized, zinc deficient. The plasma zinc levels in the control group were higher than in all the other groups (p < 0.01), and those of the zinc-deficient groups II and IV were significantly lower than for group III (p < 0.01). The melatonin levels in the controls were also significantly higher than for all other groups (p < 0.01) There was no significant difference in sperm production between the controls and the group of animals that had no epiphysis. A significant suppression was observed in the spermatogenetic activity of the zinc-deficient groups (p < 0.01). The suppression was higher in group II than in group IV. These results indicate that testicular damage caused by zinc deficiency may be reduced by melatonin deficiency.en10.1385/BTER:96:1-3:255info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessMelatoninPinealectomyRatsTestesZinc DeficiencyArticle9625526214716105Q1WOS:000187916600024Q4