Abstract:
Testicular torsion is an acute urological emergency condition that occurs due to obstruction of blood flow to the
testicles which may result in ischemia and loss of testicular functions. This study examined the protective effects
of Proxeed Plus (PP), a dietary supplement on testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injured rats using oxidative
stress markers, hormonal levels, apoptotic parameters, histological and immunohistochemistry analysis at 4 h
and after 7 days of reperfusion. The protective treatment of the I/R injured rats with PP at 1000 and 5000 mg/kg
body weight (bw) resulted in significant increases in the serum and tissue antioxidative defense capacities (superoxide
dismutase, reduced glutathione, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase), sex
hormones (luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone), also reduce pro-oxidative
markers (malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide), serum iNOS and apoptotic parameters (Caspase -3 and
Caspase -9) in comparison to the results detected in the I/R untreated rats. It was also observed that PP
ameliorated histological changes of I/R injured rats; increased spermatogenetic activity, seminiferous tubular
diameter, Leydig cell mass, and reduced expressions of testicular inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).
Therefore, the therapeutic use of Proxeed Plus could be considered a promising approach in averting testicular
damage against I/R injury.
