Sulfasalazine prevents apoptosis in spermatogenic cells after experimental testicular torsion/detorsion.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether sulfasalazine can prevent apoptosis in spermatogenic cells by preventing the activation of NF-kappaB in spermatogenic epithelium in experimental testicular torsion.


METHODS
Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral 720 degree testicular torsion for durations of 0 h and 2 h, then the torsion was relieved. The ischemic/reperfused testes were collected for the detection of NF-kappaB expression with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry techniques, and detection of apoptosis with TUNEL techniques.


RESULTS
The NF-kappaB coefficient of spermatogenic epithelium and the apoptosis index of spermatogenic cells were significantly different in the operation and the sham-operation groups after experimental testicular torsion (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
NF-kappaB activation of spermatogenic epithelium is related to apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. Sulfasalazine can prevent apoptosis in spermatogenic cells after the experimental testicular torsion through prevention of NF-kappaB activation.
Zhao
Yu-Gang
YG
Department of Urology, Xiangfan Central Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Xiangfan 441021, China. zhaoyugang@21cn.com
Zheng
Xin-Min
XM
Zhou
Ji
J
Liu
Xiao-Li
XL
Hu
Xue-Min
XM
Chen
De-Hong
DH
Zhang
Xue-Jun
XJ
Men
Xiao-Wei
XW
Shi
Hong-Bo
HB
Yu
Zhi-Yun
ZY
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016328:NF-kappa B; D012460:Sulfasalazine