The effects of infliximab on testicular torsion detorsion injury in rats

Testicular torsion is a common urologic emergency among infants and adolescents. It requires early diagnosis and surgical intervention to prevent subfertility and infertility. The main pathophysiology of testicular torsion/detorsion appears to be ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury of the testis. Most of the experimental models used to study spermatic cord torsion showed that testicular damage is induced in the contralateral testis and that risk of infertility increases. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether infliximab, anti TNFalpha antibody, is protective effects on T/D-induced ipsilateral and contralateral testis injury and to determine whether the effects of infliximab is related the modulation of the apoptotic patways. Rats will be anesthesied with thiopental sodium (50 mg/kg i.p.). In T/D group, after extracting out the right testis with scrotal incision, spermatic cord will be rotated 7200 clockwise and will be fixed to abdomen. After 2 hours of torsion, spermatic cord will be detorsioned and fixed to scrotum. In sham group, operations will be performed in a similar fashion except T/D. The rats will be treated with either infliximab (Remicade® 5 mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle (salin) 10 minutes before detorsion. İpsilateral and contralateral testis tissues will be taken out at the end of detorsion under anesthesia. For evaluation of histological findings and apoptosis, the rats will be sacrificed at 24 h of detorsion under anesthesia. Histological findings in seminiferous tubuli will be evaluated according to the Johnsen?s scoring system. Apoptosis will be determined by immunohistochemical staining of Caspase 3, 8 and 9. For measurement of sperm count, testes and cauda epididim weigth, and evaluation of sperm motility, viability and abnormality, the rats will be sacrificed on 65 days of detorsion under anesthesia. Anahtar Kelimeler: İnfliksimab, Kaspaz, Sperm, Testis, Torsiyon/detorsiyon