Assessment of possible protective effects of ferulic acid on ischemic reperfusion injury in an acute ischemic priapism model

Introduction In the case of ischemic priapism in the penis, venous obstruction and stasis in the corpus cavernosum occur. Event of delay in the treatment, lead to necrosis of cavernous smooth muscles, irreversible corporal fibrosis and erectile dysfunction. As a result of many interrelated mechanisms, priapism ends in the ongoing process and ischemia reperfusion damage occurs. Ferulic acid is one of the well-known phenol compounds, which helps to protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals against oxidative stress or to provide detoxification and prevent various dysfunctions. Objective It is aimed to evaluate the possible positive effects of ferulic acid on priapism+reperfusion injury in a penile ischemia-reperfusion model created in rats from a histological and biochemical point of view. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, a total of 18 adult male rats (Spraque Dawley type, weighing 350-400 g),were used (3 groups; 6 rats in each group; control, priapism+reperfusion, priapism+ reperfusion+ ferulic acid). Changes in tissue levels of TOS, TAS, OSI, GSH, MPO, GRP78, ATF6, CHOP, MDA, SOD, GPx in the penectomy material taken and histological characteristics of the penis tissue taken from the sacrificed rats (cavernous sinus congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, separation in the tunica albuginea) were evaluated. Findings The values found to be statistically significant from biochemical data are TOS and SOD. In our study, the data that were statistically significant in terms of histological data were monitored for cavernous sinus congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, separation in the tunica albuginea values in the tunica albuginea. Result It has been concluded that ferulic acid may be effective in preventing biochemical and histological damage that may occur in tissues in case of priapism/reperusion. Keywords: Priapism,Cinnamates,Reperfusion injury