Protective effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on testicular torsion-detorsion injury: association with heparin-containing mast cells.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the action of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on detorsion injury and the heterogeneity of mast cells in the testes of rats.


METHODS
Prepubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in six groups. Group 1 was the control group (sham operation); group 2 had 2 hours of torsion; group 3, 2 hours of torsion and 1 hour of detorsion after administration of saline; group 4 had 2 hours of torsion and 4 hours of detorsion after administration of saline; group 5, 2 hours of torsion and 1 hour of detorsion after administration of intraperitoneal VIP (25 ng/kg); and group 6, 2 hours of torsion and 4 hours of detorsion after intraperitoneal VIP. The 2 hours of torsion was created by rotating the right testis 720 degrees in a clockwise direction. VIP (25 ng/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 1 minute before the 1 and 4 hours of detorsion. At the end of the experiment, catalase enzyme activity was measured polarographically, and superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and protein were measured spectrophotometrically. Nitric oxide was measured by capillary electrophoresis in the testicular tissue. Routine histologic examination of testicular mast cells was done under light microscopy; the histochemistry was also analyzed.


RESULTS
Torsion significantly induced oxidative stress, mast cell degranulation, and tissue damage. Detorsion attenuated oxidative stress without any diminution of the histologic damage to the tissue. VIP significantly protected the testicular tissue from detorsion injury. It also inhibited mast cell activity while increasing the heparin content.


CONCLUSIONS
VIP can protect testicular tissue from detorsion injury. Heparin-containing mast cells seem to be important mediator cells for this protection.
Can
Cavit
C
Department ofUrology, Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir, Turkey.
Töre
Fatma
F
Tunçel
Neşe
N
Uysal
Onur
O
Gürer
Firdevs
F
Ak
Dilek
D
Tunçel
Muzaffer
M
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006493:Heparin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006493:Heparin; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase