Protective effect of urapidil on testicular torsion-detorsion injury in rats.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of urapidil and low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on testicular torsion-detorsion injury in rats.

METHODS

Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. In the torsion-detorsion (T/D) group, the left testis was twisted at 720° for 3 h. After 3 h of reperfusion, the testis was removed. Urapidil or LMWH was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before detorsion in the treatment groups.

RESULTS

Unilateral testicular torsion-detorsion caused significant increases in the malondialdehyde level and apoptosis and significant decreases in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in ipsilateral testes (p < 0.001). The rats treated with urapidil had a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde level and apoptosis and significant increases in the SOD and GPx activities in ipsilateral testes compared to the T/D group (p < 0.001). Animals treated with LMWH showed non-significant reductions in malondialdehyde levels and apoptosis compared to the T/D group. In addition, no significant difference in the SOD activities (p = 0.52) between the groups was found. The increase in the GPx activities was significant in the LMWH group compared to the T/D group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The administration of urapidil before detorsion prevents ischemia/reperfusion cellular damage in testicular tissue. LMWH was not found to have a beneficial effect on testicular T/D injury in rats.