title: Short-term Effects of Date Palm Extract (Phoenix dactylifera) on Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Induced by Testicular Torsion/Detorsion in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antioxidants are potent scavengers of free radicals and have beneficial effects on human health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective antioxidant activity of the edible portion of date fruit extract in an experimental testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D) model in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate the potential protective effects of date palm (DP), 30 male Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, T/D, and T/D + DP-treated (500 mg/kg, PO) groups. Testicular ischemia was induced via keeping the left testis under 720° clockwise torsion for 2 h (h), afterward, detorsion was performed. All rats were sacrificed 4 h after detorsion. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and histopathological damage score were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum MDA, TOS, and OSI levels rose significantly in the T/D group. These values were lower in the T/D + DP group. TAS values decreased significantly in T/D group and rose in T/D + DP group. Severe injury was seen in the twisted testes of T/D group. In contrast, ipsilateral-twisted testicular tissue in the DP-treated group showed moderate-to-mild changes. Contralateral testicular tissue in the T/D group had a mild-to-moderate tissue injury; meanwhile, treated group revealed normal-to-mild changes. Spermatogenesis was significantly improved in DP-treated group when compared with the T/D group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest a possible protective effect of DP against testicular oxidative damage induced by T/D; however, more detailed studies are warranted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the presence of several phenolic compounds possessing high antioxidant activity in DP, it could potentially be used to reduce testis ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage.Abbreviations Used: TAS: Total antioxidant status,TOS: Total oxidative status; OSI: Oxidative stress index; MDA: Malondialdehyde; C: Congestion; H: Hemorrhage, E: Edema; SG: Sloughed germinal cells; SA: Spermatogenesis arrest; STD: Seminiferous tubules disorganization; STA: Seminiferous tubules atrophy; G: Giant cells; T/D: Torsion/detorsion; DP: Date palm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza Raayat
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jahromi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Rokhsana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rasooli
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Younes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrollah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sattari
keywords: Antioxidant markers; Phoenix dactylifera; histopathology; ischemia/reperfusion; testis