The Effect of Free Radical Scavengers on Reperfusion Injury after Testicular Torsion

Jung, Suk Young; Cho, Dai Haing; Chun, Choong Sung

Abstract

The free radicals generated during the ischemic/reperfusion period have been suggested as a possible cause for tissue damage in organs. This state was conducted to investigate protective effects of free radical scavengers through changes in the lipid peroxide content of the testis when administered before reperfusion of testicular torsion. These protective agents include superoxide dismutase(SOD), an oxygen radical scavenger and dimethylthiourea(DMTU), a hydroxyl radical scavenger. Forty five Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 9 groups, each containing 5 rats. Group 1 served to determine basal values of the lipid peroxide content of the testis ; group 2 underwent sham operation as a control ; group 3 was subjected to unilateral testicular torsion lasting 3 hours; group 4, 5 were subjected to the detorsion lasting 1 hour and 2 hours following torsion for 3 hours; group 6, 7, 8, 9 were treated with SOD or DMTU before detorsion following torsion lasting 3 hours. The measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive products of lipid peroxidation(TBAR) were employed to assess the extent of lipid peroxidation in testicular tissues. TBAR from sham operation control groups did not differ significantly from basal groups (p>0.05). Testicular torsion caused a significant increase in TBAR in the testis (p<0.05) when compared with basal values and detorsion caused a further significant increase when compared with values obtained after torsion. But TBAR after 1 hr detorsion did not change significantly compared with values obtained after 2 hours detorsion. The pretreatment with SOD prevented this further increase but the pretreatment with DMTU didn't. In conclusion, biochemically, reperfusion injury occurs in testis following detorsion after testicular torsion of 720 lasting 3 hours. The pretreatment with SOD, an oxygen radical scavenger, is effective in preventing reperfusion injury.