Fig. 4

I A Immunoassay of androgen receptor (AR) in the testis of the control (Con-3 and 14) and MLT-treated rats (MLT-3 and 14), revealing strong AR immunostaining within germ cells (arrows). Testicular sections of irradiated rats (IR-3 and 14) illustrate mild AR expression in the testis of irradiated rats (arrows) and MLT-treated irradiated rats for 3 and 14 days (IR + MLT-3 and 14) show a marked AR immuno-expression amelioration to almost normal (arrows) within germ cells, (IHC × 100). B The histogram illustrates the quantification of the expression levels of AR in the various treatment groups. Values are expressed as the means ± SEM of 5 microscopic fields/tissue samples. ** Highly significant at P < 0.01. ***, ###, %%%, @@@ Very Highly significant at P < 0.001. **& *** Significant as compared with the control 3 days group. ### Significant as compared with the control 14 days group. %%% Significant as compared with the IR 3 days group. @@@ Significant as compared with the IR 14 days group. Cont: control, MLT: melatonin, IR: irradiated. II Immunostained testis sections with PCNA of the control (Con-3 & 14) and MLT-treated rats (MLT-3 and 14), revealing diffused PCNA immuno-expression within seminiferous tubules (arrows). Testicular sections of irradiated rats (IR-3 and 14) illustrating slight PCNA expression in the testis of the irradiated rats (arrows) and MLT-treated irradiated rats for 3 and 14 days (IR + MLT-3 and 14), showing a marked PCNA immuno-expression amelioration to almost normal (arrows) within the seminiferous tubules, (IHC × 100). (B) Histogram illustrating the quantification of the PCNA expression levels in various treatment groups. Values are expressed as the means ± SEM of 5 microscopic fields/tissue samples. ** Highly significant at P < 0.01. ***, ###, %%%, @@@ Very Highly significant at P < 0.001. **& *** Significant as compared with the control 3 days group. ### Significant as compared with the control 14 days group. %%% Significant as compared with the IR 3 days group. @@@ Significant as compared with the IR 14 days group. Cont control, MLT melatonin, IR irradiated