The role of apoptosis and protective effect of carnitine in contralateral testicular injury in experimental unilateral testicular torsion

Abstract

BACKGROUND We examined the role of programmed cell death (PCD) in the etiology of contralateral testis injury as well as the protective effect of carnitine. METHODS Thirty-six Wistar Albino rats were used in the study. Rats were divided into six groups as control, sham, torsion-detorsion with 6- and 24-hour intervals, and torsion-detorsion-carnitine administration with 6- and 24-hour intervals. The left testes of all rats were torsioned 720 degrees. Intraperitoneal carnitine was administered to groups as 100 mg/kg one hour before detorsion. Orchiectomy was applied to the contralateral testis a week after detorsion. Testes were examined with respect to diameters of seminiferous tubules (DST), ratios of malonyl dialdehyde and Johnsen biopsy scores (JBS), and PCD ratios. Results were evaluated by ANOVA test. RESULTS Programmed cell death ratios were significantly higher in the torsion-detorsion with 6- and 24-hour intervals groups compared to the sham group. Those increases were more prominent in the torsion-detorsion with 24-hour interval group. DST and JBS of the control group were significantly higher than in the experimental groups (p<0.05). The protective effect of carnitine was significant in the 24-hour torsion group, while no significant difference were detected in the 6-hour torsion-detorsion-carnitine group. CONCLUSION Increased injury and PCD in the contralateral testis was observed with prolonged exposure time in this model. It was possible to decrease the injury with carnitine.