title: Effect of morphine on ischemia-reperfusion injury: experimental study in testicular torsion rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of morphine on reperfusion injury due to testicular torsion-detorsion (T/D).
  
  
  METHODS
  We divided 36 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats into six groups. Testicular ischemia was achieved by twisting the right testis 720 degrees counterclockwise for 1 hour, and reperfusion was allowed for 4 hours after detorsion. The baseline group was for basal normal values. The sham-operated group served as the control group. The T/D group underwent 1 hour of testicular torsion and 4 hours of detorsion. The morphine group received pretreatment with intravenous morphine sulfate (10 mg/kg) just before detorsion. The naltrexone group received an intravenous injection of naltrexone HCl (20 mg/kg) 15 minutes before detorsion. The naltrexone/morphine group received intravenous administration of naltrexone HCl (20 mg/kg) 15 minutes before detorsion and morphine sulfate (10 mg/kg) just before detorsion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ipsilateral malondialdehyde levels in the T/D group were significantly greater than in the control and baseline groups. Moreover, the ipsilateral testicular malondialdehyde values in the morphine group were significantly lower than in the T/D and naltrexone/morphine groups. Also, significant decreases occurred in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in the T/D group compared with the control and baseline groups. These values were significantly greater in the morphine group than in the T/D and naltrexone/morphine groups. The ipsilateral testes of all groups that underwent testicular torsion showed similar histopathologic changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphine increased the ipsilateral intratesticular antioxidant markers during the reperfusion phase after unilateral testicular torsion, which was eventually reflected in lower testicular malondialdehyde levels. Furthermore, this effect was mediated through the opioid receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amirali Hassanzadeh
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Salmasi
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beheshtian
authors.forename: Seyedmehdi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payabvash
authors.forename: Shadpour
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demehri
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ebrahimkhani
authors.forename: Motahare
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimzadegan
authors.forename: Moslem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahadori
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasalar
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dehpour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000150:complications; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine