Astaxanthin Relieves Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury—Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Analyses

Abstract

Testicular torsion potentially leads to acute scrotum and testicle loss, and requires prompt surgical intervention to restore testicular blood flow, despite the paradoxical negative effect of reperfusion. While no drug is yet approved for this condition, antioxidants are promising candidates. This study aimed to determine astaxanthin’s (ASX), a potent antioxidant, effect on rat testicular torsion−detorsion injury. Thirty-two prepubertal male Fischer rats were divided into four groups. Group 1 underwent sham surgery. In group 2, the right testis was twisted at 720° for 90 min. After 90 min of reperfusion, the testis was removed. ASX was administered intraperitoneally at the time of detorsion (group 3) and 45 min after detorsion (group 4). Quantification of caspase-3 positive cells and oxidative stress markers detection were determined immunohistochemically, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) value, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were determined by colorimetric assays. The number of apoptotic caspase-3 positive cells and the MDA value were lower in group 4 compared to group 2. A significant increase in the SOD and GPx activity was observed in group 4 compared to groups 2 and 3. We conclude that ASX has a favorable effect on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Involvement of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-α in Experimental Testicular Ischemia and Reperfusion: Effects of Polydeoxyribonucleotide and Selenium

“…Many studies examining the effects of different substances in counteracting the different mechanisms involved in testicular I/R damage were performed, testing the role of vitamin C [ 39 ], the melanocortin analog [Nle(4),D-Phe(7)]α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone [ 40 ], α-lipoic acid [ 41 ], ghrelin [ 42 ], melatonin [ 43 ], astaxanthin [ 7 ], and relaxin [ 44 ].…”

“…Experimentally, testis I/R can be obtained with different procedures. In fact, it can be induced by torsion of the spermatic cord, followed by detorsion, both procedures lasting different lengths of time [ 6 , 7 ]. Another procedure is the use of a small microvascular clump placed on the spermatic cord in order to block the spermatic vessels; then, the clump is removed, allowing the reperfusion of the testis [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Even if the testicular environment requires low oxygen tension, an increased concentration of ROS causes peroxidation of lipids present in the sperm plasma membrane, leading to the formation of many toxic by-products, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), able to change the morphological and functional characteristics of cellular membranes [ 12 ]. As a result, seminiferous epithelium undergoes irreversible damage [ 7 ]. As to the proinflammatory cytokines, they are physiologically produced in the testis [ 13 ], being involved in the assemblage or disruption of the blood–testis barrier (BTB) [ 14 ].…”

Integrative analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics reveals the protective effect and mechanism of salidroside on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury

“…Testicular torsion is a critical urologic disease caused by winding of the spermatic cord around the testis ( Guazzone and Lustig, 2023 ; Lacy et al, 2023 ). The incidence of testicular torsion is 1 in 4,000 in male individuals younger than 25 years of age, whereas the prevalence of testicular torsion out of all acute scrotal conditions is 25%–50% ( Baskovic et al, 2022 ). Despite timely detorsion, testicular atrophy may still occur in 9.1%–73.3% of patients in long-term follow up, seriously affecting their spermatogenic functions ( Wei and Huang, 2022 ).…”

Protective effect of astaxanthin on testis torsion/detorsion injury through modulation of autophagyEfecto protector de la astaxantina en la lesión por torsión/detorsión testicular a través de la modulación de la autofagia

“…Two recent studies demonstrated the benefits of astaxanthin on testicular ischemia/reperfusion. In these studies, the protective effects of a single dose of astaxanthin administered during or after detorsion on testicular tissue and its protective effects against oxidative damage and histopathological changes in testicular torsion were investigated [4,12]. Although astaxanthin has been shown to play a protective role against testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury, related metabolic pathways are still unknown.…”