Protective effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on histologic changes in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on long-term histologic damage in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury.


METHODS
Controlled experimental study using rats.


METHODS
University of Mersin School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey.


METHODS
Sixteen adult male Wistar rats.


METHODS
Five rats underwent 2 hours of testicular torsion. Six rats received VEGF injection into the testis before detorsion. Five rats underwent sham operation.


METHODS
Mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD), germinal epithelial cell thickness (GECT), mean testicular biopsy score (MTBS), and apoptosis (caspase-3-positive cells).


RESULTS
Testicular torsion-detorsion caused a significant decrease in MSTD, GECT, and MTBS and a significant increase in the mean value of caspase-3-positive cells in ipsilateral testes but not in the contralateral testes. The MSTD, GECT, and MTBS of the ipsilateral testes were significantly higher in the group treated with VEGF than in the torsion-detorsion group. The animals treated with VEGF had a significant decrease in the mean value of ipsilateral testicular caspase-3-positive cells compared with the torsion-detorsion group.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular endothelial growth factor might have a role in testicular damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion. Administering VEGF before reperfusion might have the potential to decrease the long-term histologic damage after testicular torsion.
Tunçkiran
Ahmet
A
Department of Urology, University of Mersin School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey.
Cayan
Selahittin
S
Bozlu
Murat
M
Yilmaz
Necat
N
Acar
Deniz
D
Akbay
Erdem
E
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A