{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T17:45:19Z","timestamp":1780681519902,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":83,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,4]],"date-time":"2024-03-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1709510400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Exp Zool Pt A"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The protective action of melatonin (MLT) against the harmful effects of cadmium (Cd) on testicular activity in rats has been documented previously; however, the involved molecular mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Herein, we investigate the involvement of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) on the ability of MLT to counteract the damage induced by Cd on the rat testicular activity. Our study confirmed that Cd has harmful effects on the testes of rats and the protective action exerted by MLT. We reported, for the first time, that the addition of rapamycin (Rapa), a specific mTOR inhibitor, to animals co\u2010treated with Cd and MLT completely abolished the beneficial effects exerted by MLT, indicating that the mTOR pathway partially modulates its helpful effects on Cd testicular toxicity. Interestingly, Rapa\u2010alone treatment, provoking mTOR inhibition, produced altered morphological parameters, increased autophagy of germ and somatic cells, and reduced serum testosterone concentration. In addition, mTOR inhibition also reduced protein levels of markers of steroidogenesis (3\u03b2\u2010Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) and blood\u2013testis barrier integrity (occludin and connexin 43). Finally, Rapa altered sperm parameters as well as the ability of mature spermatozoa to perform a proper acrosome reaction. Although further investigation is needed to better clarify the molecular pathway involved in MLT action, we confirm that MLT alleviating Cd effects can be used as a supplement to enhance testicular function and improve male gamete quality.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/jez.2792","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,4]],"date-time":"2024-03-04T04:33:59Z","timestamp":1709526839000},"page":"470-482","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["RETRACTED: Melatonin counteracts cadmium\u2010induced rat testicular toxicity via the mechanistic target rapamycin (mTOR) pathway"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"341","author":[{"given":"Mariem B.","family":"Rhouma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire LR11ES41 G\u00e9n\u00e9tique Biodiversit\u00e9 et Valorisation des Bio\u2010ressourc\u00e9s, Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir Universit\u00e9 de Monastir Monastir Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7357-5353","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Massimo","family":"Venditti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate \u201cF. Bottazzi\u201d Universit\u00e0 degli Studi della Campania \u201cLuigi Vanvitelli\u201d Napoli Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Asma","family":"Haddadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire LR11ES41 G\u00e9n\u00e9tique Biodiversit\u00e9 et Valorisation des Bio\u2010ressourc\u00e9s, Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir Universit\u00e9 de Monastir Monastir Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Latifa","family":"Knani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire LR11ES41 G\u00e9n\u00e9tique Biodiversit\u00e9 et Valorisation des Bio\u2010ressourc\u00e9s, Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir Universit\u00e9 de Monastir Monastir Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lina","family":"Chouchene","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire LR11ES41 G\u00e9n\u00e9tique Biodiversit\u00e9 et Valorisation des Bio\u2010ressourc\u00e9s, Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir Universit\u00e9 de Monastir Monastir Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sana","family":"Boughammoura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire LR11ES41 G\u00e9n\u00e9tique Biodiversit\u00e9 et Valorisation des Bio\u2010ressourc\u00e9s, Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir Universit\u00e9 de Monastir Monastir Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Russel J.","family":"Reiter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cellular and Structural Biology UT Health Science Center San Antonio Texas USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1007-7840","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sergio","family":"Minucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. 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