Role of endogenous cannabinoids in ischemia/reperfusion injury following testicular torsion in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The role of endogenous cannabinoids in ischemia/reperfusion induced germ cell apoptosis in rats was investigated.


METHODS
Baseline group was for basal normal values. The Sham operated group served as a control group. The torsion/detorsion (T/D) group underwent torsion (1 h) and detorsion; AN1, AN2, and AN3 groups received anandamide (10 mg/kg) 30 min before torsion, 30 min after torsion, and just after detorsion, respectively. In the AM251 group, AM251 (0.5 mg/kg) was injected 45 min before torsion and in the AN/AM group, AM251 and anandamide were injected 45 and 30 min before torsion, respectively. Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, and germ cell apoptosis was determined.


RESULTS
Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the T/D group were significantly higher than the control group. Moreover, MDA values in the AN1, AN2, and AN3 groups were significantly lower than T/D. There were significant decreases in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in the T/D group versus the control group. These values in the AN1, AN2, and AN3 groups were significantly higher than T/D. It was also shown that MDA levels in the AN/AM group were significantly higher than the AN1 group. In the AN/AM group, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly lower versus the AN1 group. The mean germ cell apoptosis scores in all animals with testicular T/D were significantly higher than the control group. There was no difference between the apoptotic indices in the AN1, AN2, AN3, and T/D groups. Apoptosis scores in AM251 and AN/AM were significantly higher compared with the T/D and AN1 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although anandamide increased antioxidant markers, it failed to reduce germ cell apoptosis. AM251 worsened the antioxidant defense system, which is reflected as higher germ cell apoptosis.
Beheshtian
Azadeh
A
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Salmasi
Amirali Hassanzadeh
AH
Payabvash
Seyedmehdi
S
Kiumehr
Saman
S
Nezami
Behtash Ghazi
BG
Rahimpour
Sina
S
Rabani
Razieh
R
Tavangar
Seyed Mohammad
SM
Dehpour
Ahmad Reza
AR
D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000150:complications*
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators