title: Effect of dexamethasone on germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on spermatogenesis and germ cell apoptosis in the ipsilateral and contralateral testis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical research laboratory in a university setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-280 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testicular IR, treatment with dexamethasone (10 mg per kilogram of body weight).
  
  
  METHODS
  Testicular germ cell apoptosis was assessed by deoxyuridine nick-end labeling immunohistochemical assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testicular ischemia in rats led to histological damage in the ipsilateral testis. In the contralateral testis, minimal damage was observed. Germ cell apoptosis in both the ischemic and the contralateral testis increased significantly after IR. Treatment with dexamethasone did not change germ cell apoptosis in ischemic testis but decreased germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glucocorticoids may be beneficial for spermatogenesis after testicular IR by decreasing germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. olguer@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: Jorge G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mogilner
authors.forename: Yigal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Elenberg
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shiloni
authors.forename: Arnold G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Coran
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sukhotnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone