PI3K AND MTOR IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN TESTICULAR TISSUE IN EXPERIMENTAL ALCOHOL ADDICTION MODEL

Alcohol use disorder has negative effects on the reproductive system through the development of oxidative stress and its genotoxic effects on DNA integrity. Acute and chronic alcohol use adversely affects the male reproductive system. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) levels, which are involved in oxidative stress, may be important in the reproductive system in alcohol use disorder. PI3K and mTOR immunoreactivities were evaluated in testicular tissue in an experimental acute and chronic alcohol intake model in male rats. Rats were divided into 3 groups as control male (n=7), acute male (n=7) and chronic male model (n=7). Histopathological analysis of testicular tissues taken from the experimental groups was performed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Then, testicular tissues of the experimental groups were dissected and PI3K and mTOR expressions were determined by immunohistochemistry method. According to the H&E staining results, when the experimental groups were compared with the control group; It was observed that spermatozoa were less or absent in acute and chronic groups. mTOR and PI3K expressions were significantly increased in testicular tissues belonging to chronic and acute alcohol model groups. In the chronic alcohol model, both mTOR and PI3K expressions were significantly increased compared to the acute and control groups. Our research reveal that PI3K and mTOR molecules, which are involved in oxidative stress in acute and chronic alcohol intake, may be associated with damage to the reproductive system. PI3K and mTOR proteins, can be targeted at the point of treatment against alcohol-induced reproductive damage.