Effect of curcumin on ipsilateral and contralateral testes after unilateral testicular torsion in a rat model.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the protective effect of curcumin on testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.


METHODS
32 male rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): group 1: control; group 2: ischemia; group 3: I/R, and group 4: I/R+CUR. Curcumin (150 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered before 30 min of reperfusion in group 4. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Johnsen's testicular biopsy scores, and mean seminiferous tubule diameter measurements were evaluated in testes. In addition, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions were evaluated immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
MDA levels in control groups were significantly lower than other groups in ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Johnsen's scores in the control group were significantly higher than in other groups. MDA levels and Johnsen's scores in the I/R+CUR group were similar to the ischemia and I/R groups in ipsilateral and contralateral testes. The immunoreactivity of iNOS and eNOS were increased in I/R ipsilateral testicular groups. After I/R, iNOS and eNOS expression increased slightly in contralateral groups. Additionally, the curcumin treatment decreased iNOS and eNOS immunoreactivity in ipsilateral and contralateral testes.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that curcumin did not protect the unilateral nor contralateral testes. This observation may depend on inhibition of iNOS and eNOS due to inhibition of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects of nitric oxide.
Basaran
Umit Nusret
UN
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey. umitnb@superonline.com
Dokmeci
Dikmen
D
Yalcin
Omer
O
Inan
Mustafa
M
Kanter
Mehmet
M
Aydogdu
Nurettin
N
Turan
Nesrin
N
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000150:complications*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003474:Curcumin