Effect of morphine on ischemia-reperfusion injury: experimental study in testicular torsion rat model.
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.
Salmasi
Amirali Hassanzadeh
AH
Department of Pharmacology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
Beheshtian
Azadeh
A
Payabvash
Seyedmehdi
S
Demehri
Shadpour
S
Ebrahimkhani
Mohammad Reza
MR
Karimzadegan
Motahare
M
Bahadori
Moslem
M
Pasalar
Parvin
P
Dehpour
Ahmad Reza
AR
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*
D009020:Morphine