Protective effect of thymoquinone against testicular torsion induced oxidative injury

Abstract

We aimed to determine the protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ), against ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the testis tissue of rats. Twenty-seven male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three equal groups as follows: Group I, sham group; Group II, torsion group; and Group III, torsion + thymoquinone group. The ischaemia period was 2 h, and orchiectomy was performed after 30 min of detorsion. Testis tissue sections were analysed with the terminal transferase mediated dUTP-nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay to determine in situ apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Additionally, Caspase 3 and Bax proteins were analysed immunohistochemically. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity levels in the testis tissue were also measured. The superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde levels in the torsion group were significantly higher than those of the sham group (P < 0.05). Thymoquinone administration significantly reduced these levels. Torsion significantly increased active-Caspase 3 and Bax expression, which was decreased by thymoquinone. The apoptotic index of the torsion group was significantly higher than that of the control group. However, thymoquinone significantly reduced the apoptotic index (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that thymoquinone plays a protective role in oxidative stress induced ischaemia-reperfusion in the testis tissue of rats.

Protective effects ofStevia rebaudianaaqueous extract on experimental unilateral testicular ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats

“…These changes of MDA, GPX and SOD levels in T/D group were also observed in similar studies that treatment with some antioxidant substances like verapamil, onion juice, Matricaria chamomilla, thymoquinone and quercetin could improve this biochemical condition to approximately healthy condition (Aktoz, Kanter, & Aktas, 2010;Ameli et al, 2018;Ayan et al, 2016;Shokoohi, Madarek, et al, 2018;Soltani et al, 2018). There are two major limitations in this study.…”

“…This high level of ROS cannot be scavenged by endogenous scavengers due to the misbalanced oxidants and antioxidants; so, further injuries occur to previous tissue (Ates et al, 2004;Bulkley, 1987;Gökçe et al, 2010;Kazez, Demirbağ, Üstündağ, Özercan, & Sağlam, 2000;Kuroda & Siesjö, 1997). In fact, oxidative stress is the main factor, which plays the key role in this injury (Ayan et al, 2016). This excessive generation of ROS can even have harmful effects on sperm quality; these effects include reduction in normal morphology, normal motility, sperm count, and concentration of spermatozoa and even increase in abnormal spermatozoa (Shokoohi, Madarek, et al, 2018;.…”

“…This excessive generation of ROS can even have harmful effects on sperm quality; these effects include reduction in normal morphology, normal motility, sperm count, and concentration of spermatozoa and even increase in abnormal spermatozoa (Shokoohi, Madarek, et al, 2018;. In fact, oxidative stress is the main factor, which plays the key role in this injury (Ayan et al, 2016).…”

“…During I/R injury, superfluous amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are created and oxidative stress happens (Taati, So, increased ROS production during I/R injury is the main underlying mechanism of this damage (Ayan et al, 2016;Ünsal et al, 2006). Disorganisation in cell structure, DNA damage, germ cell apoptosis and reduction in testosterone production are some effects of ROS on testicular tissue (Moghimian et al, 2017;Wilhelm Filho et al, 2004).…”

“…Based on previous investigations, substances with antioxidant activity can greatly protect different tissues from I/R injury (Erdemir et al, 2008;Prillaman & Turner, 1997;Romeo et al, 2004;Ünsal et al, 2006). Antioxidants play two important roles in I/R injury: scavenging free radicals to reduce the extent of tissue injuries and neutralising the inflammatory reactions that are mediated by ROS (Ayan et al, 2016;Romeo et al, 2004).…”