Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract This study evaluated the protective effects of intraperitoneal tannic acid (TA) against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in a rat model of testicular torsion. Eighteen adult male Wistar rats were randomized into three groups (n=6 each): sham (surgery without ischemia), I/R (3 hr ischemia + 3 hr reperfusion), and I/R+TA (TA 50 mg kg-1; 100 µL i.p. 30 min before reperfusion). Testicular tissues were sampled immediately after reperfusion for biochemical assays to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Epididymides were analyzed 60 days later for sperm count, motility, viability, morphology, and DNA integrity. I/R significantly elevated MDA and sperm DNA damage while reducing SOD, GPx, sperm parameters, testicular weight and spermatogenesis. TA administration reversed these changes and restored the parameters to levels close to those of the sham group. Overall, intraperitoneal TA mitigated I/R-induced oxidative stress and preserved reproductive function, indicating its potential therapeutic value in testicular torsion.

Abstract Testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury during testicular torsion is strongly influenced by oxidative stress caused by excessive accumulation of uncaptured reactive oxygen species (ROS). Kisspeptin-10, a biologically active fragment of the kisspeptin peptide family, has demonstrated significant antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. Recent studies indicate that kisspeptin-10 can mitigate oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen species levels and enhancing the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. This study examined the effects of kisspeptin-10 on I/R injury in testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D) of male rats. Twenty male rats were divided into four groups: the control group and three treatment groups (720° T/D, 720° T/D+ 0.50 µg kg-1 kisspeptin-10, 720° T/D+ 1.00 µg kg-1 kisspeptin-10). After inducing 720° clockwise testicular torsion for 2 hr, various factors such as sperm parameters, number, total motility, viability, DNA damage and hypoosmotic test were evaluated. The results showed that 720° T/D can increase sperm DNA damage. In addition, it also had negative effects on overall motility and other properties such as viability and plasma membrane functionality. The results also showed that administration of kisspeptin-10 to T/D rats can reduce DNA damage. These effects could also increase overall motility, viability and plasma membrane functionality compared to the T/D group. Based on our results, kisspeptin-10 provides significant protection against acute T/D injury to the testis when administered after spermatic cord torsion in rat.

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 In recent years, liver transplantation has emerged as the standard therapy for several liver disorders. Throughout the procedure, the transplanted liver tissue is subjected to varying degrees of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) damage. Consequently, there has been a long-standing pursuit of substances that can alleviate the harm caused by IR. In our investigation, we employed dapagliflozin as a potential therapeutic agent. Eighteen Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 6), including treatment, IR, and control that did not undergo surgical intervention. Two days prior to surgery, the treatment group received dapagliflozin at a dosage of 10.00 mg kg^-1 orally. During surgery, liver ischemia was induced for 1 hr, followed by a 24-hr reperfusion period. The IR group exhibited elevated levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde compared to the control group. In contrast, the treatment group showed levels of these factors that were closer to those of the control group. While total protein, albumin, and total anti-oxidant capacity decreased in the IR group, this decline was less significant in the treatment group. Analysis of oxidative stress in liver tissue revealed that the treatment group had increased anti-oxidant capacity, and exhibited less oxidative stress compared to the IR group. Furthermore, dapagliflozin was found to reduce the degree of liver edema, necrosis, and vascular hyperemia following IR. Overall, dapagliflozin demonstrates the potential to lessen liver damage, enhance liver tissue regeneration, and mitigate the consequences associated with liver impairment.

Abstract The efficacy of eucalyptol on testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of eucalyptol on I/R injury induced by testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D) in rats. A total of 32 rats were divided into four groups, including control, T/D, E100 (T/D + 100 mg kg^-1 eucalyptol administered 30 min prior to torsion), and E200 (T/D + 200 mg kg^-1 eucalyptol administered 30 min prior to torsion). Testicular T/D was induced in the left testis via a 720° clockwise torsion for 3 hr, followed by 3 hr of detorsion. Testicular tissues were harvested for histopathological, immunohistochemical including cleaved caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax), Bcl-2, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and biochemical parameter as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (rGSH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), vitamin C, and malondialdehyde (MDA) analyses. In the T/D group, significant reductions in GPx, rGSH, G6PD, and vitamin C levels were observed, alongside increased MDA levels compared to the control group. Immuno-histochemically, the T/D group exhibited increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, along with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and PCNA, compared to the control group. Histologically, Johnsen and Cosentino scores were irregular in the T/D group. Pre-treatment with eucalyptol resulted in reduced MDA, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax levels, while GPx, rGSH, vitamin C, G6PD, PCNA, and Bcl-2 levels increased. Additionally, improvements in Cosentino and Johnsen scores and histopathological damage were observed. These findings suggest that eucalyptol may exert a protective effect against I/R injury caused by testicular T/D, likely due to its anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties.

Abstract The torsion model of testis in a rat was adopted for evaluation of possible effects of propolis (Prop) on ischemia-reperfusion (IS/REP) injury. The healthy male Wistar rats (totally 24 animals) were randomized into four groups (n = 6) and animals experienced bilateral testicular torsions as follows: In sham group just, laparotomy was performed and in IS group, animals experienced a 3 hr period testicular IS. In IS/REP group, a 3 hr period of IS followed by a 3 hr period of testicular REP for left testis and a one-week testicular REP for right testis were done. In this group animals were gavaged by 1.00 mL normal saline 1 hr before the onset of IS. In IS/REP/ Prop group, the same procedures for IS/REP animals were followed as well as gavage of 1.00 mL Prop extract solution 1 hr before the onset of IS. Analyses of biochemistry, histology, inflammatory biomarkers and sperm parameters were carried out. In IS/REP/Prop group, nitric oxide synthase malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanine in IS/REP/Prop group were significantly decreased and, superoxide dismutase, total glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly increased compared to the other animals. In IS/REP/Prop group, seminiferous tubules (with normal spermatogenesis) showed all stages of spermatogenic cells with plentiful spermatozoa. Tubular deterioration and atrophy and spermatogenic cell loss in were seen in a limited extent. The mean concentrations of Interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha in IS/REP/Prop were significantly decreased. Sperm quality was significantly improved by Prop in IS/REP/Prop group. It was concluded that Prop could be supportive in diminishing IS/REP injury in testicular tissue exposed to ischemia.