Protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid in experimental spermatic cord torsion.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) in rats that were subjected to torsion/detorsion of the spermatic cord in a comparative controlled experiment.


METHODS
Forty-eight male Wistar rats, randomized in two groups, received intraperitoneal injections of LA (LA group; aqueous solution at 36 mg/kg of body weight per day) or equal volume of saline (control group) 21, 9, and 1 h before torsion of the spermatic cord. Rats in each group were distributed in four subgroups, each comprising six animals. All surgical procedures were performed under inhaled ether anesthesia. Ischemia was induced by 720-degree torsion of the spermatic cord for 3 h. The right testis was assessed through longitudinal scrotal incision. After each surgical procedure, scrotal incisions were closed with 4-0 nylon monofilament. Ipsilateral testes and arterial blood samples were collected at the end of ischemia and 1, 3, and 6 h after detorsion. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and reduced glutathione levels (micromoles per gram of wet tissue) were assayed in testis. Total antioxidant power was measured in blood plasma.


RESULTS
LA pretreatment promoted a significant decrease in testicular concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and simultaneously induced an increase in reduced glutathione concentrations at all time points studied. Plasma total antioxidant power levels increased significantly during reperfusion (T-1) in LA-treated rats compared with control rats.


CONCLUSIONS
LA administered before torsion of the spermatic cord showed significant protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion injury by decreasing lipid peroxidation and regulating testicular reduced glutathione and plasma total antioxidant power levels.
Guimarães
Sergio Botelho
SB
Department of Surgery, and Head, Experimental Surgery Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
Santos
Jefferson Menezes Viana
JM
Aragão
Alan Arruda
AA
de Sandes Kimura
Osamu
O
Barbosa
Paulo Hudson Uchoa
PH
de Vasconcelos
Paulo Roberto Leitão
PR
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D005978:Glutathione