[Protective effect of pentoxifylline on spermatogenesis following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of pentoxifylline on spermatogenesis following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats.

METHODS

Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were divided into three groups randomly, each comprising 8 rats. In Group I, rats underwent a sham operation. In Group II and III, animals were submitted to unilateral 720 degrees testicular torsion, then detorsion in two hours. Infusion of isotonic saline and pentoxifylline into tail vein was initiated 15 minutes prior to relief of torsion in Group II and III respectively. Twenty four hours later, testes were examined for evidence of germ cell apoptosis by the flow cytometry and the level of total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) by spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

Compared with that of group II, the number of apoptotic germ cell and the level of MDA decreased remarkably in Group III, but T-AOC increased significantly (P <0.01).

CONCLUSION

Pentoxifylline provided significant rescue of testicular function after acute experimental torsion.