title: The effect of micronized purified flavonoid fraction on the prevention of testicular pathologies in adolescent rats with experimentally induced varicocele.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effect of micronized purified flavonoid fraction on the prevention of testicular pathologies following varicocele induction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 66 adolescent (6-week-old) male Wistar rats were included in study. Rats were divided into 7 groups, including group 1--control, group 2--sham operation, group 3--left varicocele induced, group 4--varicocele induced, varicocelectomy done 4 weeks later and micronized purified flavonoid fraction administered for 4 weeks, group 5--varicocele induced and micronized purified flavonoid fraction administered for 8 weeks, group 6--varicocele induced and beginning 4 weeks later micronized purified flavonoid fraction administered for 4 weeks, and group 7--varicocele induced and varicocelectomy done 4 weeks later. Before sacrifice bilateral real-time testicular microvascular perfusion of all rats was measured using the PeriFlux System 5000 PF 5010 LDPM Unit (Perimed, Järfälla, Sweden). All testes were graded according to the Johnsen scoring system. To assess apoptosis caspase-3 levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testicular weight in group 3 was markedly decreased and the extent of seminiferous tubular damage was significantly increased compared with the other groups. Bilateral testicular blood flow and the number of apoptotic germ cells were greater in group 3. Significantly higher Johnsen scores and a meaningful decrease in the apoptotic index were detected in groups 4 to 7 compared with group 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed favorable effects of micronized purified flavonoid fraction on the regression of testicular damage secondary to varicocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey. aarmagantr@gmail.com
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armagan
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Taylan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oksay
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Darici
authors.forename: Firdevs
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aylak
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ergun
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids