Curcumin attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat testis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of curcumin, a potent antioxidant, on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by overgeneration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after testicular torsion-detorsion.


METHODS
Controlled experimental study using rats.


METHODS
Research laboratory.


METHODS
Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
Rats in the control group underwent a sham operation of the left testis. In the torsion-detorsion group, the left testis was rotated 720 degrees for 2 hours. Rats in treatment group received the same surgical procedure as the torsion-detorsion group, but curcumin was administered IV at repair of testicular torsion.


METHODS
Testicular activity of xanthine oxidase, which catalyzes production of ROS; malondialdehyde level (an indicator of ROS content); protein expression level of heme oxygenase-1, which catalyzes antioxidant generation; and spermatogenesis.


RESULTS
Unilateral testicular torsion-detorsion caused significant increases in xanthine oxidase activity, malondialdehyde level, and heme oxygenase-1 protein expression level and caused a significant decrease in testicular spermatogenesis in ipsilateral testes. The rats treated with curcumin had significant decreases in xanthine oxidase activity and malondialdehyde level and had significant increases in heme oxygenase-1 protein expression level and testicular spermatogenesis in ipsilateral testes, compared with the torsion-detorsion group.


CONCLUSIONS
The curcumin exerts a protective effect on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Wei
Si-Ming
SM
Department of Urology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. wsm1971@hotmail.com
Yan
Zhi-Zhong
ZZ
Zhou
Jian
J
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000517:prevention & control; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D003474:Curcumin