Comparison of the protective effects of papaverine, lidocaine and verapamil on the sperm quality of the testis after induced torsion-detorsion in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Spermatic cord torsion is a true urological emergency. Significant subfertility exists in patients following unilateral testicular torsion. Several studies have tested several agents such as vasodilators and antioxidants to inhibit or temper testicular damage.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups; in group 1 (control) no operation or drug injection was done. In groups 2-5 the left testis was subjected to 270 torsions. Two hours after induced torsion, drugs were injected intraperitoneally. Rats in group 2 received no drug, whereas those in groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered a single dose of papaverine (35 mg/kg), lidocaine (4 mg/kg) and verapamil (0.1 mg/kg), respectively. Thirty minutes after drug injection (2.5 h after torsion), testis detorsion was performed in all groups. The drug injections continued for 1 week. After 20 days, bilateral orchiectomy was carried out and semen from both testes was evaluated.


RESULTS
In animals treated with verapamil, left testis sperm count and the percentage of motile sperm were increased significantly in comparison with the sham-operated animals. Sperm morphology in all groups was in the normal range. Mean sperm count and motility in the right testes were not significantly different in different groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Verapamil can induce beneficial effects on semen analysis parameters after testicular torsion in rats.
Shirazi
Mehdi
M
Surgery Department, Division of Urology, Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Iran.
Noorafshan
Ali
A
Karbalay-Doust
Saied
S
Ardeshiri
Mohammad
M
Afrasiabi
Mohammad Amin
MA
Monabati
Ahmad
A
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010208:Papaverine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000150:complications*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D008012:Lidocaine; D014700:Verapamil; D010208:Papaverine