Pentoxifylline improves blood flow to both testes in testicular torsion

Objectives: Electromagnetic and radioisotopic studies have shown thatunilateral testicular torsion causes a decrease in contralateral testicularblood flow. Pentoxifylline improves microvascular blood flow in conditionsof vascular insufficiency. An experimental study was designed to evaluatethe effects of pentoxifylline (Ptx) on blood flow to both testes duringunilateral testicular torsion and detorsion.Materials and methods: Thirty-six adult male albino Wistar rats wererandomly divided into six groups where each consisted of six rats: group1: sham operation, group 2: sham operation with Ptx, group 3: torsion,group 4: torsion with Ptx, group 5: detorsion, group 6: detorsion with Ptx.After intraperitoneal administration of Ptx at a dose of 50 mg/kg 15minutes before torsion; right testes of the rats underwent 30 minutes oftorsion and 30 minutes of detorsion. Blood flows of both testes weremeasured during torsion and detorsion simultaneously by using ¹³³Xeclearance technique.Results: Unilateral testicular torsion caused decrease in bilateraltesticular blood flow. Pentoxifylline had no effect on testicular blood flowduring torsion. Detorsion caused a partially increase in blood flow toipsilateral (detorted) testis, but had no effect on contralateral (nontorted)testicular blood flow. Pentoxifylline administration during detorsionsignificantly increased blood flow to both testes.Conclusions: Testicular torsion is a pathological process that causesdecreased blood flow to both testes. Pentoxifylline improves blood flow toboth testes during detorsion in a rat model of testicular torsion. Furtherstudies are needed to evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline on testiculartorsion.     

The preventive effects of thiopental and propofol on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: Testicular torsion is a urological emergency that requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent testicular damage. The aim of the study was to investigate the preventive effects of thiopental and propofol as anesthetics on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Forty male Wistar Albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 rats each. During 5 h, anesthesia was induced and maintained with thiopental in groups 1 and 2 and with propofol in groups 3 and 4. Groups 2 and 4 received left testicular ischemia (torsion) during 1 h and reperfusion (detorsion) during 4 h. Groups 1 and 3 (control groups) had no testicular torsion and detorsion. At the end of 5 h, animals were killed and both ipsilateral and contralateral testes were removed for histopathologic examination and measurement of tissue MDA (malondialdehyde) and NO (nitric oxide) levels. RESULTS: In the contralateral testes of all the groups, MDA and NO measurements were not different from ipsilateral testes of the control groups. Between the groups 1 and 3, there were no differences in MDA and NO levels. Although torsion/detorsion of testes in group 4 caused significantly increased levels of tissue MDA and NO values compared with group 3, ischemia-reperfusion in group 2 caused a further increase in these levels compared with group 4. The ipsilateral testes in the control groups did not show any morphological changes. Testicular torsion/detorsion in rats with thiopental anesthesia (group 2) caused significantly greater histopathologic injury levels than rats with propofol anesthesia (group 4). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that propofol as an anesthetic agent may prevent testicular damage by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in an animal model of testicular torsion and detorsion.     

己酮可可碱对大鼠睾丸扭转复位后生精功能的保护

目的:探讨己酮可可碱(PTX)对大鼠睾丸扭转复位后生精功能的保护作用。方法:雄性SD大鼠24只,随机分成3组,每组8只,建立睾丸扭转动物模型。第Ⅰ组为假手术组(扭转720°后立即复位),第Ⅱ、Ⅲ组扭转720°2 h,于复位前15 m in分别静脉注射生理盐水和PTX,术后24 h留取手术侧睾丸。应用流式细胞术(FCM)检测各组生精细胞凋亡和各级生精细胞计数,采用硫代巴比妥酸法测定丙二醛(MDA)含量,化学比色法测定组织内总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)。结果:第Ⅲ组应用PTX后与第Ⅱ组相比,生精细胞凋亡明显减少(399.50±33.31vs1221.75±132.48,P<0.01),单倍体和四倍体细胞群计数显著增多(5554.13±441.28vs4102.35±206.98;1906.00±200.72vs1711.63±144.55,P均<0.01;),T-AOC明显回升(32.52±2.86vs22.76±3.73,P<0.01),MDA含量下降(1.78±0.20vs3.98±0.36,P<0.01),其差异均有显著性(P<0.01)。结论:己酮可可碱对睾丸扭转复位后的生精功能具有明显的保护作用。     

Testicular nitric oxide levels after unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion in rats pretreated with caffeic acid phenethyl ester

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in modulating blood flow in normal and in several pathological conditions, and its levels seem to change with ischemia–reperfusion injuries. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis, exhibits antioxidant properties. This experimental study was designed to determine the changes in NO levels and the effect of CAPE on NO levels after testicular torsion/detorsion in rats. Thirty-five adult male albino rats were divided into four groups: sham operation (n=8), torsion (n=9), saline/detorsion (n=9), and CAPE/detorsion (n=9). Rats in the sham operation group were killed after the testes were handled without torsion. Rats in the torsion group were killed after 720° clockwise testicular torsion for 2 h. CAPE was administered 30 min before detorsion in the CAPE/detorsion group and saline was administered in the saline/detorsion group. After 4 h of testicular detorsion in both of these groups, the rats were killed and bilateral orchiectomy was performed to determine the tissue levels of NO. The level of NO in the torsion group (113.77 ± 33.18 nmol/g protein) was significantly higher than that of the sham operation group (64.53 ± 29.64 nmol/g protein). In the saline/detorsion group, the NO level (31.26 ± 12.58 nmol/g protein) was significantly lower than in the torsion and sham operation groups. CAPE administration in the CAPE/detorsion group seemed to raise the NO level (72.63 ± 23.87 nmol/g protein) above the level of the sham operation group. Contralateral testes were not affected by the torsion/detorsion processes performed on the ipsilateral testes. These results show that NO levels increase with torsion and decrease with detorsion. CAPE administration seems to increase tissue NO levels and this may be important for protecting the testes from torsion/detorsion injuries. Received: 30 December 1999 / Accepted: 8 September 2000     

Protective role of erythropoietin during testicular torsion of the rats

Testicular torsion is an important clinical urgency. Similar mechanisms occurred after detorsion of the affected testis as in the ischemia reperfusion (I/R) damage. This study was designed to investigate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment after unilateral testicular torsion. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 underwent a sham operation of the right testis under general anesthesia. Group 2 was same as sham, and EPO (3,000 IU/kg) infused i.p., group 3 underwent a similar operation but the right testis was rotated 720° clockwise for 1 h, maintained by fixing the testis to the scrotum, and saline infused during the procedure. Group 4 underwent similar torsion but EPO was infused half an hour before the detorsion procedure, and in group 5, EPO was infused after detorsion procedure. Four hours after detorsion, ipsilateral and contralateral testes were taken out for evaluation. Treatment with EPO improved testicular structures in the ipsilateral testis but improvement was less in the contralateral testis histologically, but EPO treatment decreased germ cell apoptosis in both testes following testicular IR. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and nitrite levels decreased after EPO treatment especially in the ipsilateral testis. We conclude that testicular I/R causes an increase in germ cell apoptosis both in the ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Eryhropoietin has antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects following testicular torsion.     

Protective effects of trapidil in ischemia–reperfusion injury due to testicular torsion and detorsion: An experimental study

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to detect the preventive effects of trapidil in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury due to testicular torsion and detorsion. METHODS: Forty prepubertal albino rats were used. In the IR group, torsion was created by rotating the left testis over 2 h, and detorsion was done by untwisting the testis. Bilateral orchiectomies were performed after 4 h. In study group, 2-h torsion was performed and trapidil was administered as a single dose 1 h before detorsion. Bilateral orchiectomies were performed after 4 h. In the sham group, a sham operation was done. In the sham plus trapidil group, a sham operation was done and trapidil was administered as a single dose. Testicular tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and total sulfhydryl (T-SH) levels were determined for each group. The grades of interstitial injury were determined in histopathologic examination. RESULTS: The NO and MDA levels in the IR group were significantly higher than the study, sham and sham plus trapidil groups in the left testis (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). A statistical difference was not found among study, sham and sham plus trapidil groups in the left testis in NO and MDA levels (P>0.05). The T-SH level in the study group was significantly higher than in the IR, sham and sham plus trapidil groups in left testis P<0.05). In the IR group (left testis), grade 1 interstitial injury was 30% (3/10), grade 2 injury was 60% (6/10) and grade 3 injury was 10% (1/10). In the study group (left testis), grade 1 interstitial injury was 30% (3/10) and there was no injury in 70% (7/10). CONCLUSION: Trapidil decreased free oxygen radical formation in testicular torsion and detorsion, and attenuated histopathological damage in the ipsilateral twisted testis.     

The role of nitric oxide in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury process in testes. METHODS: Fifty prepubertal male rats were divided into 5 groups each containing 10 rats. After 4-hour torsion and 4-hour detorsion, bilateral orchiectomies were performed for measurement of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) level and histopathologic examination. The results were compared statistically. The groups were labeled as group 1, basal values of biochemical parameters in testes; group 2 (control group), torsion plus detorsion; group 3, torsion plus N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) plus detorsion; group 4, torsion plus L-arginine plus detorsion; group 5, sham operation. RESULTS: The highest MDA values were determined in the L-arginin group in ipsilateral testes. Group 3 and group 4 were statistically different from control group. Histological examination showed that specimens from group 4 had a significantly (P < .05) greater histological injury than group 3, and contralateral testes showed normal testicular architecture in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NO plays an important role in damaging the testis with I/R. Although inhibition of NO synthesis with L-NMMA significantly improves I/R injury in testes, enhancing NO production by providing excess of L-arginine increases such damage. In the early periods of detorsion, there is no damage to contralateral testes after unilateral testicular torsion.     

Reperfusion injury after detorsion of unilateral testicular torsion

Summary Reperfusion injury has been well documented in organs other than testis. An experimental study was conducted to investigate reperfusion injury in testes via the biochemical changes after unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion. As unilateral testicular torsion and varicocele have been shown to affect contralateral testicular blood flow, reperfusion injury was studied in both testes. Given that testicular blood flow does not return after 720° testicular torsion lasting more than 3 h, the present study was conducted after 1 and 2 h of 720° torsion. Adult male albino rats were divided into seven groups each containing ten rats. One group served to determine the basal values of biochemical parameters, two groups were subjected to 1 and 2 h of unilateral testicular torsion respectively, two groups were subjected to detorsion following 1 and 2 h of torison respectively, and two groups underwent sham operations as a control. Levels of lactic acid, hypoxanthine and lipid peroxidation products were determined in testicular tissues. Values of these three parameters obtained from the sham operation control groups did not differ significantly from basal values (P>0.05). All three parameters were increased significantly in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes after unilateral testicular torsion when compared with basal values (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Detorsion caused significant changes in lipid peroxidation products levels in ipsilateral but not in contralateral testes when compared with values obtained after torsion (P<0.01 and P>0.05, respectively). It is concluded that ipsilateral testicular torsion causes a decrease in perfusion not only in the ipsilateral but also in the contralateral testis. Additionally, detorsion following up to 2 h of 720° torsion causes reperfusion injury in ipsilateral but not in contralateral testis.     

Antiapoptotic effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on testicular torsion/detorsion in rats

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on apoptosis of testicular germ cells after repair of testicular torsion in rats. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, with six rats in each group: sham operation, torsion/detorsion (T/D), T/D + vehicle, and T/D + DHEA. Three hours before detorsion, 50 mg kg(-1) DHEA was given intraperitoneally to T/D + DHEA group. In all groups, bilateral orchiectomies were performed and both testicles were histologically examined, with apoptosis detected using the in situ DNA fragmentation [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL)] system, with morphological damage detected using a four-level grading scale in each specimen. The testes of the sham group showed a normal histology. In T/D and T/D + vehicle groups, apoptotic spermatogonia and spermatocyte number were significantly higher than in the sham group (P < 0.01 for all). The T/D + DHEA group showed a reduction in apoptotic spermatocyte and spermatogonia number in seminiferous epithelia compared with T/D group (P < 0.01 for both). Apoptotic cell number of contralateral testes did not reveal any significant differences among these groups (P > 0.05). Specimens from T/D and T/D + vehicle had a significantly greater histological injury than sham and T/D + DHEA groups in the ipsilateral testes (P < 0.01 for both). Therefore, the results suggest that DHEA may be a protective agent for preventing apoptosis caused by testicular torsion.     

The effects of N-acetylcysteine on antioxidant enzyme activities in experimental testicular torsion

Testicular torsion is a serious problem in male children and, if not treated at the right time, can lead to subfertility and infertility. The main reason for testicular damage is ischemia-reperfusion injury. A number of chemical substances have been used to protect testes against ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental animals. The possible protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on testicular tissue after testicular detorsion was examined in the current study. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: sham operation, torsion, detorsion, and NAC + detorsion groups (n = 6 for each group). Excluding sham operation group, the rats were subjected to unilateral torsion (720-degree rotation in clockwise direction). After torsion (5 h) and detorsion (2 h), unilateral orchidectomy was performed. Malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities were determined in testicular tissue. Administration of N-acetylcysteine caused a decrease in malondialdehyde levels and an increase in glutathione peroxidase levels compared to detorsion group. The results suggest that N-acetylcysteine may be a potential protective agent for preventing the negative biochemical changes related to oxidative stress in testicular injury caused by testis torsion.     

Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment attenuates reperfusion injury after testicular torsion and detorsion in rats

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, and histopathologic changes in both testes after unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion.

Methods

Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 6 for each group): sham operation, torsion/detorsion (T/D), T/D + vehicle, and T/D + DHEA. Three hours before detorsion, 50 mg/kg DHEA was given intraperitoneally to the T/D + DHEA group. Testicular ischemia was achieved by twisting the left testis 720° clockwise for 3 hours, and reperfusion was allowed for 24 hours after detorsion. In all groups, bilateral orchiectomies to determine the testicular tissue catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histopathologic examination were performed.

Results

Compared with those from the sham group, CAT activities in the ipsilateral testis obtained from the T/D group were significantly lower and MDA levels were significantly higher (P < .05 for all).Administration of DHEA prevented increases in MDA levels and decreases in CAT and superoxide dismutase activities when compared to the T/D group. Specimens from the T/D and the T/D + vehicle groups had a significantly greater histologic injury than the specimens from the sham and the T/D + DHEA groups had (P < .01 for both).

Conclusions

The results suggest that DHEA may be a protective agent for preventing biochemical and histopathologic changes related to oxidative stress in testicular injury caused by testis torsion.     

Gradual detorsion of torsioned rat testis attenuates ischemia reperfusion injury

Aim

This study was designed to investigate effect of gradual detorsion on testicular ischemia reperfusion injury.

Materials and Methods

A total of 21 male rats were divided into 3 groups, each containing 7 rats. Torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° in a clockwise direction. Group 1 underwent sham operation. Group 2 (sudden detorsion) served as a torsion/detorsion group, receiving 2 hours torsion and 2 hours detorsion. In group 3, 360° detorsion was done for 20 minutes after 720° torsion for 2 hours. Then, testis was done full detorsion for 100 minutes. At the end of the experiments (fourth hour), left orchiectomy was performed to measure the tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and to perform histologic examination in testes.

Results

The MDA levels of testis tissues were significantly increased in the sudden detorsion group as compared with the sham group. We found decrease of the MDA level in gradual detorsion group, but it was not a statistically significant amount. Significant decrease was found in the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the sudden detorsion group as compared with the sham and gradual detorsion groups. Histologic examinations were in accordance with the testicular tissue MDA levels.

Conclusion

In the light of our biochemical and histopathologic findings, we can say that gradual detorsion has a trend to decrease the degree of testicular reperfusion injury in the rat torsion/detorsion model.     

The protective effects of grape seed extract on MDA, AOPP, apoptosis and eNOS expression in testicular torsion: an experimental study

Objectives

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) is a potent antioxidant and a free radical scavenger. This study was designed to determine whether GSPE could protect against dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by torsion–detorsion injury in rat testis.

Methods

A total of 45 male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: control group, sham group, torsion–detorsion (T/D) group, T/D + GSPE group, GSPE group. GSPE was administrated 100 mg/kg/day with oral gavage over seven days before torsion. Testicular torsion was performed for 2 h, and afterward, detorsion was performed for 2 h. The rats were decapitated under ketamine anesthesia, and their testes tissues were removed. Tissue malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products levels, eNOS expression, apoptosis and histopathological damage scores were then compared.

Results

Testicular torsion–detorsion caused significant increases in malondialdehyde level, apoptosis and eNOS expression level and caused a significant decrease in advanced oxidation protein product levels and testicular spermatogenesis in ipsilateral testes. GSPE prevented the rise in malondialdehyde, apoptosis and eNOS expression and improved testicular morphology and Johnsen’s score.

Conclusions

As a result, testicular torsion gives rise to serious damage in testes and GSPE is a potent antioxidant agent in preventing testicular injury.     

Protective effects of Stevia rebaudiana aqueous extract on experimental unilateral testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats

This project aimed to examine Stevia rebaudiana aqueous extract protective effects on testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury of rats. Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) sham group, (2) torsion/detorsion group, (3 and 4) low and high doses treatment groups received S. rebaudiana extract intraperitoneally 30 min before detorsion by 500 and 1,000 mg/kg respectively, and (5) healthy group received the extract by 1,000 mg/kg. In this study, left testes were rotated 2 hr, reperfusion period took long 5 hr, and then orchiectomy was performed. Histopathological and biochemical evaluations of testicular tissue samples were performed. Histopathologically, sham and healthy groups exhibited normal seminiferous tubules. Germinal cell necrosis, interstitial oedema, haemorrhage and congestion were seen in torsion/detorsion group. Testicular tissues of both treatment groups revealed lower histopathological alterations. Significant higher malondialdehyde level was observed in torsion/detorsion group than sham and healthy groups (p < .05). Compared with torsion/detorsion group, S. rebaudiana extract significantly reduced malondialdehyde level in treatment groups (p < .05). Torsion/detorsion group had significantly lower glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities than sham and healthy groups, and these parameters showed significant increase in treatment groups compared with torsion/detorsion group (p < .05). The results revealed S. rebaudiana has this potential to protect the testes from ischaemia/reperfusion injury.     

黄芪注射液对大鼠扭转复位后睾丸组织的保护作用

目的:探讨黄芪注射液对雄性Wistar大鼠扭转复位后睾丸的保护作用。方法:30只大鼠随机分为假手术组(A组)、睾丸扭转复位组(B组)、黄芪注射液治疗组(C组),每组10只,Turner法建立单侧睾丸扭转复位模型,原位缺口末端标记法检测各组睾丸组织中生殖细胞凋亡,化学比色法测定超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)含量。结果:黄芪注射液治疗组与睾丸扭转复位组比较,SOD含量明显升高,MDA含量明显降低,生精细胞凋亡指数明显降低。睾丸扭转复位组、黄芪注射液治疗组与假手术对照组比较,SOD含量明显降低,MDA含量明显升高,生精细胞凋亡指数明显升高。结论:黄芪注射液可减少大鼠睾丸扭转复位后睾丸组织的双侧睾丸生殖细胞凋亡,对扭转复位后睾丸生殖细胞有保护作用。其机理可能与提高抗氧化酶活性及减少氧自由基的产生从而减轻大鼠睾丸扭转复位后的缺血再灌注损伤有关。     

Propofol attenuates reperfusion injury after testicular torsion and detorsion

Propofol, which is widely used as an intravenous anesthetic, has been shown to have an antioxidant activity on several tissues. This study was designed to investigate the prevention of reperfusion injury with propofol after testicular torsion. Five groups of rats (seven in each group) were used. Animals in the control group (group I) did not received any treatment, while animals in the sham group (group II) underwent scrotal incision and testicular fixation only. After 2 h of 720° left testicular torsion in groups III, IV and V, subsequent detorsion was done for 2 h in groups IV and V. Propofol (50 mg/kg) was injected transperitoneally 30 min prior to detorsion in group V. Both testicles in all rats were retrieved and tissue malondialdeyhde (MDA) level, which is a measure of the amount of free oxygen radicals, and enzymatic activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), which converts hypoxanthine to xanthine and uric acid were studied. In addition, tissue catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, which are endogenous scavenger enzymes, protecting tissues against free radicals, were studied. Additionally, histological evaluations were performed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Testicular MDA levels, and XO and CAT activities were higher in the torsion group compared to sham control group (P<0.05). Detorsion caused a further increase in MDA levels, contrasting with a decrease in the levels of XO activity, while CAT activity was not changed. Pretreatment with propofol prevented a further increase in MDA levels and significantly decreased CAT activity following detorsion. GSH-Px activities were not effected either by torsion/detorsion or propofol pretreatment. Histologically, torsion caused some separation between germinal cells in the seminiferous tubules, which became much more prominent in the detorsion group and attenuated with propofol pretreatment. There was no significant change in any of the abovementioned enzymatic activities nor were there histopathological changes in the contralateral testicle in any groups. It is concluded that biochemically and histologically reperfusion injury occurs in the ipsilateral testis following detorsion up to 2 h. Preference of propofol for anaesthesia during the detorsion procedure may attenuate such reperfusion injury.     

Do experimentally induced ipsilateral testicular torsion, vas deferens obstruction, intra-abdominal testis or venous obstruction damage the contralateral testis through a common mechanism?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if various conditions affecting the ipsilateral testis which also damage the contralateral testis share a common pathway for their effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised five groups of 10 adult rats which underwent surgery to produce (on their left sides); group 1, a sham operation (control); group 2, testicular torsion; group 3, vas deferens obstruction; group 4, an intra-abdominal testis; and group 5, venous obstruction. The ipsilateral and contralateral testes were harvested 4 weeks after surgery. The relative proportions of haploid cells, the mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD), mean testicular biopsy scores (MTBS), and lactate and hypoxanthine levels were determined and compared. RESULTS: The proportions of haploid cells in the ipsilateral and the contralateral testes of groups 2-5 were significantly lower than those of the corresponding testes of the control group. The MSTD and MTBS of the ipsilateral testes in groups 2-5 were also significantly lower than the ipsilateral testes of controls and the contralateral testes within the same groups. While the MSTD and MTBS of the contralateral testes of groups 1 and 5 were not significantly different, those of the contralateral testes of groups 2-4 were significantly less than that of group 1. The lactic acid and hypoxanthine levels of the ipsilateral and contralateral testes were significantly increased in groups 2 and 3. While only the hypoxanthine level of group 5 increased significantly, both variables were not significantly different between the ipsilateral testes of groups 1 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: These four treatments damaged both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes. As the lactic acid and hypoxanthine levels within the contralateral testis were greater than in the controls, testicular torsion and vas deferens obstruction seem to share a common pathway (which may be a reflex decrease in contralateral testicular blood flow) for their effects on the contralateral testis.     

An enigma: Contralateral effects of experimental unilateral testicular torsion

To investigate the effects of unilateral testicular torsion on both testes, we studied 4 groups of adult male New Zealand rabbits using sham operation, torsion and detorsion after one or eight hours and permanent torsion. Bilateral orchiectomy was performed 9 weeks after the operation, and testicular weights, Johnsen scores, quantitative analyses, tubular diameters were calculated and histopathologic diagnosis was determined. Testicular weights, Johnsen scores, spermatid counts and tubular diameters were all decreased in torsioned testes depending on the duration of torsion. The contralateral testes showed no significant change in any of the study groups when compared with the control group.     

茶多酚对大鼠睾丸扭转/复位模型保护作用的研究

目的:探讨茶多酚对大鼠睾丸扭转/复位模型的保护作用。方法:将24只健康雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为3组,每组8只。第Ⅰ组为假手术组(切开左侧阴囊游离睾丸,但不予扭转),第Ⅱ、Ⅲ组扭转左侧睾丸720°6h,分别于扭转复位前30min腹腔注射生理盐水和茶多酚,术后连续3d分别以低剂量维持。3组大鼠喂养至术后第5天处死,切取左侧扭转睾丸检测睾丸组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)含量;以原位缺口末端标记法(TUNEL)检测生精细胞凋亡指数(AI)。结果:Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ3组左侧扭转睾丸组织SOD活力分别为(285.00±22.51)、(242.00±17.62)、(261.00±10.01)nU/mg;MDA含量分别为(1.81±0.20)、(4.34±0.34)、(2.94±0.38)nmol/mg;3组之间比较均有显著性差异。Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ3组左侧扭转睾丸生精细胞凋亡指数(AI)分别为6.64±1.82、55.23±6.46、31.84±5.56,第Ⅲ组与第Ⅱ组相比,其生殖细胞凋亡明显减少(P<0.05)。结论:茶多酚对因睾丸扭转导致的缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用。     

Protective role of natural antioxidant supplementation on testicular tissue after testicular torsion and detorsion

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of garlic extract (GE), which is known for its antioxidant activity, on a testicular torsion/detorsion model in animals and to help understand how to prevent both ischemic and reperfusion injuries after testicular torsion and detorsion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six groups of rats (n=7 in each group) were used. The animals in the control group (Group I) did not receive any treatment. The animals in the sham group (Group II) underwent scrotal incision and testicular fixation only. The animals in Groups III-VI underwent 720 degrees of left testicular torsion for 2 h; subsequent detorsion was performed for 2h in Groups IV and VI only. Animals in Groups V and VI were treated exactly the same as those in Groups III and IV, respectively except that they were pretreated with oral GE for 5 days at a dosage of 5 ml/kg. Both testicles in all rats were removed and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enzymatic activities of xanthine oxidase (XO) were studied, in addition to a histological evaluation after hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: Testicular MDA levels and XO activities were higher in Group III compared to Group II (p<0.05). Pretreatment with GE prevented these increases. Detorsion caused more damage and resulted in a further increase in MDA levels but MDA levels were not increased in animals pretreated with GE. Histologically, torsion caused some separation between germinative cells in the seminiferous tubules, which became much more prominent in Group IV and was attenuated by GE pretreatment. There were no significant changes in any of the above-mentioned enzymatic activities or histopathologic changes in the contralateral testicle in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that both testicular torsion and detorsion result in testicular tissue damage by means of lipid peroxidation, which is evident by an increase in the tissue levels of MDA. Dietary supplementation with GE seems to attenuate the generation of toxic free radicals, as evidenced indirectly by low tissue MDA levels.