title: Inhaled hydrogen gas therapy for prevention of testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated whether 2% hydrogen (H(2)) gas therapy protects against testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury which results in increased formation of reactive oxygen species and/or reactive nitrogen species, leading to testicular apoptosis and impaired spermatogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pubertal six-week-old Spraque-Dawley rats were assigned to 5 groups (10 animals/group) as follows: group A was a sham operated group; groups B, C, D, and E underwent 5 hours of left testicular ischemia followed by 0, 30, 60, and 120 minutes of 2% H(2) gas therapy, respectively. Histological analysis was performed to verify structure and morphology of the testes and to investigate Johnsen scores, mean seminiferous tubule diameter, and the number of germ cell layers to classify spermatogenesis. Germ cell apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio real-time polymerase chain reaction. We also investigated malondialdehyde levels as an indicator of lipid peroxidation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the sham group (A), germ cell apoptosis and lipid peroxidation in the ischemia group (B) were significantly increased with abnormal morphology and impaired spermatogenesis. In contrast, amelioration of testicular damages was evident in the H(2) therapy groups (C, D, and E).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that inhalation of 2% H(2) gas may be a promising therapy with anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant properties in cases of testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong-In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Ah
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Hun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Seon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yoon Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000150:complications*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; C494828:Bax protein, rat; D015415:Biomarkers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006859:Hydrogen