Dose‐dependent protective effect of baicalin against testicular torsion–detorsion in rats

Testicular torsion/detorsion induces oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of testicular tissues. Baicalin exerts antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. This study investigated the possible protective effect of baicalin against testicular torsion–detorsion injury in rats. Surgical testicular torsion was induced for 2 h, followed by detorsion which was continued for 24 h. Baicalin was administered in three different doses (25, 50 and 100 mg kg^?1, by intraperitoneal injection). Each dose was given twice, the first 30 min before and the second 12 h after testicular detorsion. Baicalin, in a dose‐dependent manner, decreased the torsion/detorsion‐induced elevations of testicular malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor‐α, BCL2‐associated X protein (Bax), cytosolic cytochrome c and caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 activities. Baicalin, dose dependently, attenuated the reductions of B‐cell leucemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2), and glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in testicular tissues resulted from torsion/detorsion. In addition, baicalin ameliorated the histopathological testicular tissue damage and reduced the expression of Fas ligand in rat testes exposed to torsion/detorsion in a dose‐dependent manner. It was concluded that baicalin, dose dependently, ameliorated testicular injury induced by torsion/detorsion via its antioxidant, antinitrosative, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic effects.