The effect of hydrogen sulfide on ischemi̇a /reperfusion injury in an experimental testicular torsion model.

INTRODUCTION

Testicular torsion is an acute pediatric surgical emergency requiring rapid diagnosis to prevent the permanent ischaemic damage of the testicles. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) have shown to cure tissue damage and has a role in the prevention of I/R damage. We aimed to evaluate the effect of H2S in testicular torsion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen male, Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups. The sham group which is applied surgical stress. The ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R) which detorsion performed 1 h later than testicular torsion application. I/R + NaHS treatment group, NaHS solution was injected intraperitoneally for 1 week. On the 7th day of the detorsion all left testes were fixed in Bouin solution and sent to Pathology Department for histopathological examination. All right testes were washed with normal saline, dried in a sterile way and stored in - 80 °C deepfreeze up to the date of biochemical processes. Testicular tissues were obtained for the detection of myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), AOPP (advanced oxidation protein product) for oxidant markers and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities for antioxidant markers and histopathological exploration.

RESULTS

The effects of NaHs administration on oxidation were evaluated by determination of testicular MPO, MDA and AOPP levels. Increased testicular MPO (58.6%) activity was observed in the I/R group compared to the sham group. Following NaHS treatment, MPO (26.7%) activity was significantly decreased in rats exposed to I/R injury (Figure 1). MDA levels did not alter. Increases in AOPP (20.9%) levels were observed in the I/R group. NaHS treatment resulted in significant decreases in AOPP (25.1%) levels in testes tissues of rats exposed to I/R injury. The effects of NaHS treatment on antioxidant system FRAP, SOD, GSH and GSH-Px activities were evaluated. GSH levels were significantly increased in the IR + NaHS group compared to the I/R group. In histopathological examination degeneration of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic cells were observed in the I/R group. After NaHS treatment, normal spermatogenic activity with many spermatozoa in the lumen of most seminiferous tubules were observed in the I/R injured rats. According to Johnsen's scoring (JS), the I/R group was significantly decreased compared to the sham group. JS values for the I/R + NaHS group were significantly increased compared to the I/R group.

CONCLUSION

Our study supports that ischemia/reperfusion injury plays an important role in the testicular torsion injury, and it is a pioneer study showing that H₂S may have a potential for therapeutic effect. The limitation of this work is this is an experimental study with limited number of animals. According to the results of our study, hydrogen sulfide treatment has beneficial effects on biochemical and histopathological results of testicular injury in testic torsion.