Apoptosis in testicular tissue of rats after vasectomy: evaluation of eNOS, iNOS immunoreactivities and the effects of ozone therapy

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and apoptotic index in rat testicular tissue, as well as serum and seminal plasma sex hormone levels after vasectomy, and the effect of ozone therapy (OT). Material and methods:Adult male Wistar rats were used (n=6 per group). Control (G1), sham for 4 weeks (G2) or 6 weeks (G3), orchiectomy at the 4 th (G4) or 6 th (G5) week after left vasectomy, orchiectomy at the 4 th (G6) or 6 th (G7) week after bilateral vasectomy, orchiectomy after 6 weeks OT following left (G8) or bilateral (G9) vasectomy, orchiectomy after 6 weeks OT (G10). Results:In the left testes, while there were increases in eNOS and iNOS immunoreactivity and apoptotic indexes in G4 and G5, no changes were observed in contralateral testis. These values increased in G6 and G7, while OT inhibited these parameters in the left testis of G8 and both testes of G9. Sex hormone levels did not show any changes after vasectomy and ozone therapy. Conclusion:While OT was found to be protective against some parameters mentioned above under stress conditions, it seemed to cause some harmful effects when used in healthy conditions.

Medical ozone therapy reduces oxidative stress and testicular damage in an experimental model of testicular torsion in rats

“…The concentration of ozone in medical therapy in previous reports varies between 0.1 and 4mg/kg, and it was administered IP. Both concentration of ozone (1mg/kg) and treatment time (2h) in this study were therefore compatible with previous studies ( 2 , 11 , 16 , 18 , 22 ).…”

“…However, if there is no challenge to the oxidant/antioxidant balance, then ozone may be deleterious. In order to obtain maximum benefit from the biological effects, the dose of ozone applied should be calculated very carefully ( 22 ). The concentration of ozone in medical therapy in previous reports varies between 0.1 and 4mg/kg, and it was administered IP.…”

Role of Ozone Therapy in Preventing Testicular Damage in an Experimental Cryptorchid Rat Model

“…To the best of our knowledge, the role of ozone therapy in testicular functions were only evaluated by 2 previous studies. Alpcan et al evaluated the effects of ozone therapy on apoptosis, eNOS, and iNOS immunoreactivity in rat testis tissue following vasectomy [ 25 ]. According to their results, the authors suggested that ozone administration had beneficial effects on oxidative damage, but could also be harmful if applied to healthy subjects The second study, performed by Mete et al, evaluated the route of administration of ozone therapy on the outcomes in rat testes in an experimental torsion model [ 26 ].…”

Exploring the Protective Effects of Chinar (Platanus Orientalis L.) Leaf on Testes Damage Induced by Ethanol in Rat Model

“…The cellular localization of NOS in the testis was previously determined by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence microscopy, and/or immunoblotting in human Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, myofibroblasts, endothelial cells and spermatozoa (Middendorff et al, 1997;O'Bryan et al, 1998;Fujisawa et al, 2001), as well as in mouse spermatozoa (Herrero et al, 1997) and the Sertoli cells, germ cells, Leydig cells, and endothelial cells of rats (Zini et al, 1998;Zini et al, 1999;Meroni et al, 2000;Lee et al, 2003). eNOS immunoreactivity was observed in rats mainly in early and late-round spermatids, spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells (Alpcan et al, 2014). The intensity of immunohistochemical staining for eNOS was more pronounced in peritubular myoepithelial cells, Leydig cells, and the cytoplasm of spermatids in rats (Yiğit et al, 2016).…”