L-Carnitina atenua danos testiculares em ratos tratados na fase pré-púbere com sulfato de vincristina.

Abstract

The expansion of services in human and animal health, and the use of new diagnostic techniques have increased the life expectancy of man and domestic animals. Consequently, the number of oncological diagnoses in these species has grown at the same rate. Chemotherapy has emerged as an important alternative in the treatment of various types of tumors. Despite the therapeutic efficacy of many chemotherapy protocols, the use of these drugs has severe limitations, which are related to their adverse effects. Antineoplastic drugs act during the process of cell division, preventing the multiplication of neoplastic cells, and consequently, the growth and expansion of neoplasms. However, many normal tissues present a high degree of cell proliferation, making them the target of the action of chemotherapeutics, the reason for the origin of many adverse effects that limit the use of antineoplastic drugs. The evaluation of cytoprotective substances has become increasingly frequent and necessary to ensure the integrity of normal tissues in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Among the factors that impact reproductive capacity, maintaining the integrity of the male gonads of cancer patients is of great importance, especially in prepubertal individuals, whose reproductive immaturity makes it impossible to conserve gametes for later use in assisted reproduction biotechnologies. L-carnitine has shown promising protective effects on the testis subjected to the action of several aggressive agents, including chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to compile information regarding the use of antineoplastics and substances that protect the male gonads from the adverse effects of these drugs and to analyze the effects of vincristine sulfate and the protective action of L-carnitine on the male gonads of albino rats. This work comprises a systematic review that groups works that directly address the subject and two scientific experiments whose objective was to determine the cytoprotective effects of L-carnitine on the testes of rats treated with vincristine sulfate in the prepubertal phase. The results indicate a severe degree of damage to the seminiferous epithelium and Sertoli cells caused by the action of the antineoplastic. L-carnitine reduced the deleterious effects of the antineoplastic on the testicular variables studied.