[Verapamil and hypothermia protect spermatogenesis of torsioned testes in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of verapamil and hypothermia on the spermatogenesis of rats after testicular torsion.


METHODS
Sixty healthy pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 5 groups: A (testis torsion), B (testis torsion + verapamil), C (testis torsion + hypothermia), D (testis torsion + verapamil + hypothermia) and E (control). After treatment, the left testis was removed for the observation of the histological changes under the microscope and measurement of the percentage of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
HE staining showed disordered arrangement, reduced layers and decreased number of spermatogenic cells, apoptotic bodies, necrosis and partial invasion of inflammatory cells in all the groups but E, most obvious in Group A. The apoptosis rates of germ cells in Groups A, B, C, D and E were (32.11 +/- 2.20)%, (20.18 +/- 1.50)%, (20.02 +/- 1.90)%, (13.75 +/- 1.40)% and (8.56 +/- 0.90)%, respectively, and the Makler scores in the 5 groups were (14.47 +/- 1.35), (15.45 +/- 0.75), (15.48 +/- 0.75), (16.22 +/- 0.72) and (19.60 +/- 0.56), respectively, both with statistically significant differences (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased apoptosis of germ cells after testicular torsion-and-reposition may reduce the spermatogenesis of the testis. Either verapamil or local hypothermia can enhance testicular resistance against injuries, and the combination of the two can more efficiently prevent the germ cells from apoptosis.
Gao
Dian-jun
DJ
Institute of Urology, Weifang Medical College, Weifang, Shandong 261042, China. sdwfgdj123@163.com
Xuan
Xu-jun
XJ
Wang
Yu-jun
YJ
Sun
Bao-gang
BG
Wang
Jian-xin
JX
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014700:Verapamil