Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Testicular ischemia-reperfusion is accompanied by elevated production of reactive oxygen species. It has been reported that reactive oxygen species are highly reactive to cellular carbohydrates, DNA, lipids, and proteins, and result in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury. Gastrodin is the principal active ingredient isolated from the medicinal plant Gastrodia elata Blume and has anti-oxidative stress effect. The potential protective activity of gastrodin in rat testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury model and underlying mechanism were explored. Male rats were randomized into three groups, including sham control, testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury, and testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury along with gastrodin injection (n = 20). Testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury group received 2-hr period of left testicular torsion (720° and counterclockwise) and 4-hr or 3-month period of testicular detorsion. At the onset of testicular detorsion, gastrodin-treated rats were given 100 mg kg^-1 gastrodin by intra-peritoneal route. Following testicular detorsion, testicular tissues were collected for enzymatic activity analysis, oxidative stress evaluation, and histopathological examination. The ipsilateral testicular xanthine oxidase activity (source of reactive oxygen species production) and malondialdehyde level (a precise biomarker of reactive oxygen species) were significantly increased in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury group versus sham control group, while testicular spermatogenic function was decreased. Also, gastrodin administration reduced xanthine oxidase activity and malondialdehyde level in ipsilateral testicular tissue, while improving testicular spermatogenic function. Consequently, it is suggested that gastrodin plays a protective role in testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury through inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity to decrease reactive oxygen species formation.

Abstract The present study was aimed to determine the protective effects of Plantago major L (PM) leaf extracts on the testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D)-induced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Twenty-four mature male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-220 g, were selected. They were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each: Sham (sham-operated rats; all the surgical steps were performed but T/D was not induced), TDC (control group; T/D was induced and the right testicular torsion of 720° lasting two hours was followed by detorsion), TDP50 (T/D-operated rats received 50.00 mg kg^-1 of PM extract daily for seven days intraperitoneally after detorsion) and TDP100 (T/D-operated rats received 100 mg kg^-1 of PM extract daily for seven days intraperitoneally after detorsion). After seven days of treatment, the right testicles were collected. Histopathological and biochemical analyses including levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT) and peroxidase activities were determined in testicular tissues of the rats. Tissue sections were taken from testis, Hematoxylin-Eosin staining was done, and the slides were examined by a light microscope. The level of MDA was significantly increased in the testes of the TDC group. The CAT activity levels were decreased significantly after I/R. The post-torsion treatment with PM, particularly at 100 mg kg^-1, prevented the increase in lipid peroxidation and reduced the CAT activity levels. The PM also prevented I/R-induced cellular damage and histological changes in the testicular tissues. According to the results of the current study, PM leaf extracts had significant positive effects on the testicular T/D-induced I/R injury. The possible mechanism of reduction in biochemical and histological injuries by PM extracts could be due to antioxidant property.