Pioglitazone abrogates testicular damage induced by testicular torsion/detorsion in rats

The synergistic activity of fisetin on quercetin improves testicular recover in ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

This study examines a potential treatment for testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury using fisetin (FIS) and quercetin (QUE) in a rat model. Male rats were divided into five groups: a control group, a torsion/detorsion (T/D) group, and three experimental groups treated with FIS, QUE, or a combination of FIS + QUE. Sperm parameters, oxidative stress markers, histopathological features, RT-PCR analysis of apoptotic and antiapoptotic gene expression, and fertility index were evaluated. The results demonstrated that FIS + QUE, FIS, and QUE significantly improved sperm motility and concentration, leading to a higher fertility index, than the reduced metrics in the T/D group. Additionally, levels of MDA and NO were significantly lowered, while CAT, SOD, GPx, and TAC levels increased in the FIS + QUE, FIS, and QUE groups. Histopathological, RT-PCR and fertility analyses also revealed evidence of apoptosis and testicular damage in the T/D group, shown by significant increases in P53, Bax, and caspase-3, along with marked decreases in AKT, PI3K, and Bcl-2. Treatment with FIS and QUE, particularly in combination, significantly improved outcomes, indicating a strong synergistic effect that helps repair damage and enhance reproductive function after T/D injury.

Comparison of the therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma and injectable platelet-rich fibrin on testicular torsion/detorsion injury in rats

Testicular torsion is a common disorder in males and results in blockage of testicular circulation with subsequent damage of testicular germ cells. The current work aimed to compare the therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) on torsion/detorsion (T/D) injury in rats. Forty mature male Wister rats were arranged into 4 groups; (1) Control, (2) T/D, (3) T/D + PRP, and (4) T/D+ i-PRF. The right testis was twisting 1080° clockwise for 3 h in groups 2, 3 and 4, then 10 μl of PRP or i-PRF was injected intra-testicular 3 h after detorsion in groups 3 and 4, respectively. After 30 days postoperatively, the semen quality and hormonal assay were improved in PRP and i-PRF-treated groups with superiority of i-PRF (P < 0.001). High significance of Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Superoxide Dismutase, Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Caspase-3 and Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was reported in treated rats with PRP and i-PRF (P < 0.001) with superiority to i-PRF-treated rats (P < 0.001). Testicular histoarchitectures were improved in PRP and i-PRF-treated rats with superiority of i-PRF-treated rats. It was concluded that PRP and i-PRF have regenerative efficacy on testicular damage after induced T/D injury with a superior efficacy of i-PRF.

Pioglitazone attenuates tamoxifen-induced liver damage in rats via modulating Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 and SIRT1/Notch1 signaling pathways: In-vivo investigations, and molecular docking analysis

BACKGROUND

Tamoxifen (TAM) is a chemotherapeutic drug widely utilized to treat breast cancer. On the other hand, it exerts deleterious cellular effects in clinical applications as an antineoplastic agent, such as liver damage and cirrhosis. TAM-induced hepatic toxicity is mainly attributed to oxidative stress and inflammation. Pioglitazone (PIO), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist, is utilized to treat diabetes mellitus type-2. PIO has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in different tissues. This research assessed the impact of PIO against TAM-induced hepatic intoxication.

METHODS

Rats received PIO (10 mg/kg) and TAM (45 mg/kg) orally for 10 days.

RESULTS

TAM increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triggered several histopathological alterations, NF-κB p65, increased hepatic oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. PIO protects against TAM-induced liver dysfunction, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), and pro-inflammatory markers along with improved hepatic antioxidants. Moreover, PIO, increased hepatic Bcl-2 expression while reducing Bax expression and caspase-3 levels. In addition, PIO decreased Keap-1, Notch1, and Hes-1 while upregulated HO-1, Nrf2, and SIRT1. Molecular docking showed the binding affinity of PIO for Keap-1, NF-κB, and SIRT1.

CONCLUSION

PIO mitigated TAM hepatotoxicity by decreasing apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The protecting ability of PIO was accompanied by reducing Keap-1 and NF-κB and regulating Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 and Sirt1/Notch1 signaling. A schematic diagram illustrating the protective effect of PIO against TAM hepatotoxicity. PIO prevented TAM-induced liver injury by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and SIRT1/Notch1 signaling and mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Attenuation Effect of Salvianolic Acid B on Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

During testicular ischemia-reperfusion, overproduction of reactive oxygen species is associated with testicular injury. We injected hydrogen peroxide (a representative of reactive oxygen species) into normal testis via the testicular artery. The experiment demonstrates that reactive oxygen species can cause spermatogenic injury. Salvianolic acid B, the most abundant bioactive component in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been reported to possess a potent antioxidant activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of salvianolic acid B on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat testicular torsion-detorsion model. Rats were randomly separated into three groups, including 20 rats in each group: control group with sham operation, testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, and testicular ischemia-reperfusion + salvianolic acid B-treated group. In the testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, left testicular torsion of 720° for 2 hours was induced, and then testicular detorsion was carried out. Rats in the salvianolic acid B-treated group additionally had salvianolic acid B administered intravenously at detorsion. At 4 hours after detorsion, testes of 10 rats from each group were collected to analyze the protein expression of xanthine oxidase which catalyzes generation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde concentration (an indirect indicator of reactive oxygen species). At 3 months after detorsion, testes of the remaining 10 rats from each group were collected to analyze spermatogenesis. Compared with the control group, xanthine oxidase protein expression and malondialdehyde concentration in ipsilateral testes of testicular ischemia-reperfusion group increased significantly, while spermatogenesis decreased significantly. In the salvianolic acid B-treated group, xanthine oxidase protein expression and malondialdehyde concentration in ipsilateral testes decreased significantly, while spermatogenesis increased significantly, compared with the testicular ischemia-reperfusion group. These results suggest that salvianolic acid B can attenuate testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury by downregulating the xanthine oxidase protein expression to inhibit reactive oxygen species formation.