Pre-ischemic administration of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors reduced germ cell apoptosis after spermatic vessel ligation in the rat testis.
BACKGROUND
The Fowler-Stephens maneuver, a mode of spermatic vessel ligation, is a method of choice in the management of high testes. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of pre-ischemic administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) inhibitor, in preventing testicular ischemic damage and germ cell-specific apoptosis in rats.


METHODS
30 min before ligation of the spermatic vessels, L-NAME was administered intraperitoneally to a group of rats and saline was given to another group of rats (controls). Biochemical assessments of NO and germ cell-specific apoptosis were performed.


RESULTS
Testicular NO levels in the L-NAME group showed significant decreases in the ipsilateral (p = 0.004) and contralateral (p = 0.015) testes in relation to those of the control group. The apoptotic indices were found in 2.3% of the L-NAME group and 3.1% of the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-ischemic administrations of the NOS inhibitor, L-NAME, effectively decreased NO production and to some degree caused a reduction in germ cell apoptosis in the rat testes after spermatic vessel ligation. Further studies are mandatory to confirm our preliminary results and to address the potential introduction of NOS inhibitors into clinical practice.
Taneli
Fatma
F
Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. fatma.taneli@bayar.edu.tr
Vatansever
Seda
S
Ulman
Cevval
C
Giray
Gulsen
G
Genc
Abdulkadir
A
Taneli
Can
C
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007511:Ischemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester