Evaluation of the effects of beet juice (beta vulgaris) on testic tissue in rats with torsion model

Objective: Testicular torsion; It is an emergency uropathology defined as the deterioration of the blood flow of the testis and its appendages as a result of the rotation of the spermatic cord around its axis. In our study, it was aimed to analyze the protective efficacy of beetroot juice against ischemia-reperfusion injury after detorsion in rats with testicular torsion model. Materials and methods: A total of 24 male Albino-Wistar rats were randomized into three groups. Group 1 was determined as the control group. Group 2 was determined as the ischemia-reperfusion group. Testicular torsion was applied to the rats in Group 2 first, and then ischemia-reperfusion injury was evaluated by performing testicular detorsion. Group 3 was determined as the treatment group. Procedures similar to those in Group 2 were applied to the rats in Group 3. In addition to the rats in Group 3, beetroot juice was given for 28 days before the procedure. At the end of the experiment, all rats underwent orchiectomy and blood samples were taken. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were analyzed spectrophotometrically from blood samples. In order to determine the severity of tissue damage, Johnsen scores were evaluated in direct microscopic examination of testicular tissue samples. Results: MDA value in rats in group 2 was calculated as 9.66±0.65 nmol/mL. It was observed that this value was significantly higher than the other groups (p<0.001). When the antioxidant enzyme levels measured in the rats in Group 3 were examined, SOD and GSH-Px were calculated as 6.34±0.72 U/L and 762.25±93.68 U/L, respectively. These values were noted as significantly higher than Group 2 (p=0.018, p<0.001, respectively). In the histopathological analysis, the lowest Johnsen score was recorded in Group 2 (p<0.001). This value was calculated as 8.13+0.64 in Group 3 and a significant improvement was observed in the Johnsen scoring system compared to Group 2 (p=0.042) Conclusions: In our study, it has been demonstrated both histopathologically and biochemically that the application of beetroot juice has a protective effect against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury. Keywords: Beetroot juice, İschemia reperfusion injury, testicular torsion, treatment