[Astragalus protects the testis following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of astragalus on testis tissues following unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion.


METHODS
Thirty healthy adult Wistar rats were equally randomized into Group A (sham-operation control), B (torsion/detorsion) and C (torsion/detorsion plus intraperitoneal injection of astragalus). The testicular torsion/detorsion model was established by the Turner method. All the rats were fed under the same condition for 7 days and sacrificed, and the torsional testes were harvested for the detection of germ cell apoptosis, glutathione activity and the level of malonic diethylaldehyde (MDA).


RESULTS
The apoptosis indexes (AI) of spermatogenic cells in the torsional testes were (5.82 +/- 1.21), (36.18 +/- 8.40) and (20.39 +/- 3.57) in Group A, B and C, significantly higher in Group B and C than in A (P < 0.05) and in Group B than in C (P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed in glutathione activity in the ipsilateral testes among Group A (48.03 +/- 2.01), B (30.93 +/- 1.25), C (38.44 +/- 1.06) U/mg (P< 0.05), as well as in the level of MDA, (1.43 +/- 0.17), (3.98 +/- 0.36), (2.57 +/- 0.53) nmol/ml, among the three groups (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Astragalus could significantly reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, decrease the level of lipid peroxidation and protect glutathione activity in the torsional testis.
Zhen
Jing-bo
JB
Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Langfang City, Langfang, Hebei 065000, China. wellwater73@163.com
Li
Wen-ping
WP
Zuo
Yan
Y
Xu
You-ling
YL
Wang
Ya-rong
YR
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D027883:Astragalus Plant; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000188:drug therapy*