Three-Dimensional Scaffold, Light Emitting Diode (LED) And Melatonin Effects on Cell Proliferation and Testosterone Secretion in TM3 Leydig Cells

Different effects of fibrin scaffold, green LED and melatonin on cell proliferation and differentiation have received extensive attentions. Testosterone, the most important sex hormone is secreted by Leydig cells to regulate spermatogenesis and many other phenomena in the body organs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the proliferation of Leydig cells and their testosterone secretion under the influence of three-dimensional scaffold culture, green light irradiation and melatonin. The experimental groups, were TM3 cells incorporated in 3D scaffold culture, exposed to green light and also exposed to melatonin individually, in pairs and three factors together. Cell proliferation and testosterone secretion were measured after 72 hr. Cell cycle genes including PCNA, CYCLIND1, CDC2 and CDKN1B and, testosterone related genes; GATA4 and RORα were also examined. In general, three-dimensional scaffold increased Leydig cells proliferation, testosterone secretion and the expression of the related genes. On the other hand, melatonin decreased cell proliferation and testosterone synthesis. Green light did not significantly change the results but slightly decreased cell proliferation and testosterone synthesis. Combination of green light with melatonin significantly reduced the outcome while, light with scaffold increased the results. Application of light + scaffold + melatonin covered the decreasing effect of melatonin.