Original story from Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center (Shanghai, China). Melatonin and zinc oxide nanoparticles may protect male reproductive health during chemotherapy, study suggests. A recent study in Reproductive and Developmental Medicine shows that combining melatonin with zinc oxide nanoparticles can protect male reproductive health in rats treated with the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide. The research found that the combination of these antioxidants improved hormone levels, reduced oxidative stress and preserved sperm-producing cells in the testes. Cyclophosphamide is commonly used to treat cancers and immune-related disorders, but it is known to damage rapidly dividing cells, including those in the testes, leading to reproductive toxicity. The study aimed to test whether melatonin, zinc oxide nanoparticles or both could reduce these harmful effects by counteracting oxidative stress. In the study, 42 adult male rats were divided into six groups. One group served as a control, one received cyclophosphamide alone and other groups received cyclophosphamide together with melatonin, zinc oxide nanoparticles or both. A final group received melatonin and zinc oxide nanoparticles without chemotherapy. All treatments were administered once a week for 8 weeks. Researchers then measured reproductive hormones, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activity and the number of spermatogenic cells in the testes. RNA nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery Using tiny particles made with RNA molecules to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to tumors has shrunk metastasized tumors in mouse lungs. Rats treated with cyclophosphamide alone showed substantial reproductive damage. Testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels dropped sharply, antioxidant enzyme activity decreased, oxidative stress…
