Yaman, TuranUyar, AhmetKaya, Mehmet SalihKeles, Omer FarukUslu, Baris AtalayYener, Zabit2024-09-182024-09-1820181984-82502175-9790https://doi.org/10.1590/s2175-97902018000117529https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12483/12264The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of silymarin (SMN), an antioxidant, on methotrexate (MTX)-induced damage in rat testes. Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): control, MTX (20 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1 and 5), SMN (200 mg/kg, orally), and MTX + SMN (20 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1 and 5 and SMN 200 mg/kg orally) groups. At the end of the 6-week trial period, histopathological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and spermatological analyses were performed on testes tissues. Histopathologically, MTX-induced damage, including depletion of germ cell and loos of spermatozoa, was significantly improved with SMN treatment. Immunohistochemically, the immunoreactivity of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) and manganese superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) were detected more intensely in the MTX + SMN group than in the MTX group. Biochemical examinations revealed that SMN supplementation decreased the lipid peroxidation and increased enzymatic antioxidants in the SMN-treated rats. Spermatologically, significant differences were found in the density, motility, dead-to-live sperm ratio, and abnormal sperm rate in the MTX + SMN group compared to the MTX group. In conclusion, SMN seems to have protective effects as an antioxidant against MTX-induced damage in rat testes.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessSilymarin/effectsMethotrexate/Testes/induced damagesGPx1SOD2PathologyArticle54110.1590/s2175-979020180001175292-s2.0-85048554670Q3WOS:000435137600001Q4