Effects of platelet‐rich plasma on spermatogenesis and hormone production in an experimental testicular torsion model

Abstract

Background Platelet‐rich plasma is a biological instrument rich in growth factors and cytokines. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of platelet‐rich plasma on spermatogenesis and hormone production in an experimental testicular torsion model. Materials and methods The rats were randomly divided into three groups, including six rats in each group as follows: the first group as the sham group; the second group as the ischemia/reperfusion + Saline group and the third group as the ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma group. The left testicles of the ischemia/reperfusion + Saline and ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma group were kept in four‐hour torsion. Then, the left testicles of ischemia/reperfusion + Saline and ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma groups were detorsioned, and intra‐testicular 1 cc saline (ischemia/reperfusion + Saline) and 1 cc platelet‐rich plasma (ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma) were injected. At one month, blood samples were taken from all groups for hormonal evaluation and left orchiectomy was performed. Results The mean follicle‐stimulating hormone level of ischemia/reperfusion + Saline group was significantly higher than ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma group (7.78 ± 0.23 vs 6.18 ± 0.28 nmol/l, respectively, P = .004). The mean LH level of ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma group was significantly lower than ischemia/reperfusion + Saline group (3.63 ± 0.28 vs 5.68 ± 0.21 nmol/l, respectively, P = .004). The mean total testosterone level of ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma group was significantly higher than ischemia/reperfusion + Saline group (8.05 ± 0.24 vs 5.78 ± 0.23 nmol/l, respectively, P = .004). The mean Johnsen scores of ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma group were significantly higher than ischemia/reperfusion + Saline group (5.85 ± 0.58 vs 3.93 ± 0.65, respectively, P = .004). The mean Johnsen score of the sham group was significantly higher than ischemia/reperfusion + platelet‐rich plasma and ischemia/reperfusion + Saline groups (P = .003 and P = .003, respectively). Discussion and conclusion The platelet‐rich plasma has beneficial effects on spermatogenesis and reproductive hormone production in testicular torsion. It is easily accessible and applicable. In the future, intra‐testicular platelet‐rich plasma injection may be used in testicular torsion after detorsion. However, further experimental and large‐scale prospective clinical studies are needed to establish a definitive conclusion on this topic.

Conditioned medium of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells improves sperm parameters and reduces histological alteration in rat testicular ischaemia/reperfusion model

“…In another experimental study, Kutluhan et al showed that plateletrich plasma increases testosterone levels, further improving spermatogenesis. This beneficial effect is likely due to PRP's effect on Leydig cells' survival (Kutluhan et al, 2021). In our study, improvements in the sperm parameters, especially sperm count and viability, are due to the presence of various antioxidants, which affects the ability of Leydig cells for testosterone synthesis, leading to improved spermatogenesis.…”

“…In addition to various compounds, such as anti-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes with antioxidant properties, since various growth factors with high concentrations are present in CM and extracellular vesicles, their anti-apoptotic effect may be due to this mixture of growth factors. In a study on the effects of PRP on testicular ischaemia models, the reduced apoptosis was due to the high growth factors (Kutluhan et al, 2021).…”

Differentiation of human spermatogonial stem cells using a human decellularized testicular scaffold supplemented by platelet‐rich plasma

“…In addition, they reported an elevated number of spermatogenic stem cells and testosterone levels in rat testis 10 . It was also reported that PRP improves reproductive hormone production, the state of oxidative stress, and antioxidant markers in testicular torsion 9,11 . Furthermore, the beneficial role of PRP in improving sperm parameters and sperm cryopreservation is reported in some studies 37,38 .…”

“…These growth factors are enclosed in the alpha‐granules of platelets, which release them by degranulation 10 . In this line, Kutluhan et al showed that PRP improved the spermatogenesis process and production of FSH and testosterone in rats following experimental testicular torsion 11 . Also, Angellee et al indicated that incubation of abnormal semen with PRP positively affected abnormal semen parameters 12 …”

Platelet‐rich plasma in animal reproductive medicine: Prospective and applications

“…PRP intracavernous injection stabilized the CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) and increased the CXC motif chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5) expression in the major pelvic ganglion after bilateral CN crush injury, thus enhancing neuroprotection (Wu et al, 2021). Furthermore, in rats with induced testicular torsion-detorsion (TD), PRP treatment significantly mitigated the produced degeneration, by improving testicular histoarchitecture, state of oxidative stress and antioxidant markers and modulating the expression of IL-1β, TNFα, and caspase-3 and increase the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) expression (Samy et al, 2020), and increasing FSH and testosterone levels (Kutluhan et al, 2021).…”