Protective effect of hydrogen sulphite on experimental testicular ischemia reperfusion in rats

Summary Aim Testicular torsion is an urgent urological condition. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) processes that occur after detorsion as a treatment for torsion are caused by testicular injury. The purpose of our study is investigating the protecting effect of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) on the testicular ischemia reperfusion injury. Material and Methods 38 Wistar-Albino rats were divided randomly into 6 different groups. Control ( 6 ), Sham ( 6 ), IR-E ( 6 ); 2 hours of torsion and 4 hours of reperfusion, IR-E + H2S ( 6 ); in addition to the IR-E group, 75 μmol/kg sodium hydrogen sulphide (NaHS) was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before reperfusion, IR-L ( 7 ); 2 hours of torsion and 24 hours of reperfusion, IR- L + H2S ( 7 ); in addition to the IR- L group, 75 μmol/kg NaHS was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before reperfusion. Biochemically; Nitric Oxide (NO), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Reductive Glutathione (GSH) and Tumor TNF-α levels were measured in the testis. Serum TNF-α levels were also measured. Hematoxylin & Eosin (H & E) was histopathologically stained and microscopic findings were examined. The Johnsen Score was performed to assess spermatogenesis activity in the testis. Apoptosis protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity were evaluated immunohistochemically as well. Statistical analyses were made by the Chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results MDA and NO levels were significantly increased in the IR-L group compared to Sham and which decreased by the addition of H2S treatment to the IR- L group (p 0.05). Tissue and serum TNF-α levels were significantly increased in the IR-E group compared to Sham and which decreased by the addition of H2S treatment to the IR-E group. Johnsen score was the lowest in IR- L group (p Conclusions Firstly we would like to say that H2S treatment is protective and it against to ischemia reperfusion injury in testicular torsion. The antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties of H2S are caused protective effect as we showed at this study.