title: Postconditioning with far-infrared irradiation increases heme oxygenase-1 expression and protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat testis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have shown that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has a protective role in the mechanism underlying hypoxic preconditioning. We used a far-infrared radiation (FIR) heater to investigate the postconditioning protective role of HO-1 against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat testis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty rats were used. Testis ischemia was mimicked by total obstructive clamping of testis vessels for 1, 2, or 4 h, and concomitant postconditioning with 30 min FIR or heat light during initially 30 min reperfusion. HO-1 expression and apoptosis of testis tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, respectively. HO-1 protein level and caspase-3 activity were analyzed by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was less apoptotic activity in rat testis after FIR, as determined by TUNEL assay. Higher HO-1 protein expression was observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting (p<0.01) in testis cells after FIR postconditioning. In contrast, caspase-3 activity was significantly higher in heat light groups, as compared with FIR groups (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FIR postconditioning attenuated I/R injury in rat testis by inducing HO-1 expression, which might have a protective role in testis apoptosis after I/R injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tao-Yuan General Hospital, Department of Health, Taoyuan 330, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Po
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Shyh-Chyan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Hsia
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chau-Fong
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tzyh-Chyuan
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007259:Infrared Rays; D057775:Ischemic Postconditioning / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D053148:Caspase 3