Protective effects of melatonin on testis histology following acute torsion-detorsion in rats

Testicular damage due to spermatic cord torsion may lead toinfertility. It is probably because of changes in oxidative stress factors such asmalondialdehyde.

To investigate the protective effect of melatonin (MLT), as anantioxidant, on testicular damage induced by acute unilateral spermatic cord torsionand detorsion (T/D) in rats.

In this experimental study, 48 adult male Wistar rats wererandomly divided into three groups (8 rats/group): sham group underwent rightscrotal surgery only., the T/D group underwent right testicular torsion (for 1 hr) anddetorsion, and the melatonin group underwent right testicular torsion, received 25μg/kg melatonin intraperitoneally immediately after surgery of T/D. Then thehistological parameters and malondialdehyde (MDA) changes were evaluated.

Torsion and detorsion decreased the diameter of the tubules significantlycompared to controls (p=0.003). Melatonin could increase the diameter, but it wasnot significant (p=0.26). The heights of the epithelium were constant in sham, T/D,and melatonin groups without any significant difference between groups (p=0.98).Based on Johnsen’s score, spermatogenesis was normal in the sham group. Thetorsion significantly injured all lineage cells (p

Severe degenerative changes of testis were induced by acute unilateralspermatic cord torsion and detorsion in rats, but it had no effect on MDA level.