Protective role of methylprednisolone and heparin in ischaemic-reperfusion injury of the rat testicle

Abstract

This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of heparin and methylprednisolone in the treatment of ischaemic reperfusion (IR) injury of the testis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated equally into three groups of eight animals each. The left testes were rotated 720° for 2 h in the rats in the torsion-detorsion group. Rats in the treatment groups underwent the same surgical procedure as the torsion-detorsion group but were also given methylprednisolone (group II) or heparin (group III) by an intraperitoneal route 30 min prior to detorsion. Left orchiectomy was performed in all rats from each experimental animal at 2 h after detorsion, and the tissue was harvested for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and nitric oxide (NO) and the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase. Additional tissue was evaluated using histopathological and immunohistochemical changes. PC and MDA levels were significantly reduced in the treated groups compared to the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in NO level or SOD, GSH-Px and catalase activity among the treatment groups. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings supported biochemical changes. It is concluded that pre-treatment with methylprednisolone or heparin protects the testis in ischaemic reperfusion injury caused by testicular torsion-detorsion.

The effects of verapamil and heparin co‐administration on sperm parameters and oxidative stress in prevention of testicular torsion/detorsion damage in rats

“…In another study on effects of methylprednisolone and heparin in testicular damage conducted by Mertoğlu et al (2016), it was shown that heparin could not significantly express the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT or GSH-Px compared to controls but decreased protein levels of Bax and caspase-3 significantly and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 increased, and totally heparin had a protective role in I/R injury (Mertoğlu et al, 2016). Previous studies have failed to consider the impact of heparin on sperm parameters at testicular I/R injury (Boettcher et al, 2016;Mertoğlu et al, 2016). In contrast to the Mertoğlu et al findings, and consistent with earlier reports, in our study, we demonstrated that heparin can notably increase CAT and GPx activity and decrease MDA levels and leads to reduced oxidative damage.…”

“…4. Group 4 (TDH): Testicular torsion/detorsion was induced, and rats intraperitoneally received heparin (800 IU/kg, Alborzdaru) (Mertoğlu et al, 2016). Drug injection in all treatment groups was done 30 min before testicular detorsion.…”

“…Previous studies have proved the beneficial impacts of heparin on I/R damage in different body organs such as lungs, heart, liver, pancreas and body systems containing gastrointestinal and urogenital (Gedik et al, 2012;Ghadie et al, 2012;Mocco et al, 2007;Taha et al, 2009;Warzecha et al, 2012;Yagmurdur et al, 2003). Also, heparin has ROS-scavenging effects that protect testis from ischaemic injury (Mertoğlu et al, 2016). Also, heparin has ROS-scavenging effects that protect testis from ischaemic injury (Mertoğlu et al, 2016).…”

“…Group 4 (TDH): Testicular torsion/detorsion was induced, and rats intraperitoneally received heparin (800 IU/kg, Alborzdaru)(Mertoğlu et al, 2016).…”

“…Heparin can reduce the accumulation of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde in the untreated twisted testicle. Also, heparin has ROS-scavenging effects that protect testis from ischaemic injury (Mertoğlu et al, 2016).…”