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Protective effect of astaxanthin on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Introduction: Testicular torsion is one of the conditions of the acute scrotum that requires immediate surgical intervention. If not recognized at time, it can result of ischemic injuries and testicular loss. Astaxanthin (C40H52O4) is a pigment from the xanthophyll family, oxygenated derivatives of carotenoids whose synthesis in plants originates from lycopene. The antioxidant activity of astaxanthin is 10 times higher than zeaxanthin, lutein, cantaxanthin, β-carotene and 100 times higher than α-tocopherol. Since to date there is no drug given to patients with torsion- detorsion testicular injury, we have investigated the effect of this powerful antioxidant. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male Fischer prepubertal rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 individuals. Group 1 underwent sham surgery to determine basal values for histological evaluation. In group 2 (torsion- detorsion group), right testis was twisted at 720° for 90 min. After 90 min of reperfusion, the testis was removed. Astaxanthin was administered intraperitoneally at the time of detorsion (group 3) and 45 min after detorsion (group 4) in the treatment groups. Using software ImageJ®, histological morphometric values were measured. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in all observed parameters ; MSTD (193, 489 ± 21, 127) (χ2 = 55, 733, DF = 3, p < 0.0001), MSLD (89, 057 ± 15, 187) (χ2 = 65, 687, DF = 3, p < 0.0001), epithelial height (47, 877 ± 12, 800) (χ2 = 66, 321, DF = 3, p < 0.0001), tubular area (30920, 292 ± 4901, 310) (χ2 = 59, 290, DF = 3, p < 0.0001), luminal area (6361, 205 ± 2040, 415) (χ2 = 67, 882, DF = 3, p < 0.0001), Johnsen score (6, 563 ± 1, 101) (χ2 = 71, 018, DF = 3, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: By measuring all histological morphometric parameters it can be concluded that astaxanthin has a protective effect on testicular torsion-detorsion (ischemia- reperfusion) injury in rats.

astaxanthin ; testis ; torsion-detorsion ; ischemia-reperfusion injury

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