ABSTRACT
Background: There is some evidence indicating that Matricaria chamomile [MC] had protective effects on ischemia- reperfusion. In the present study, a rat model was used to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of MC on torsion/detorsion-induced testis tissue damage
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 28 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows: G1, Sham operated; G2, testicular torsion/detorsion [T/D]; G3, rats with testicular torsion/detorsion that received 300 mg/kg of MC extracts 30 minutes before detorsion [T/DMC]; and G4, healthy rats that received 300 mg/kg of MC extracts [MC]. Also, the reperfusion period was 24 hours. After blood sampling, the oxidative stress marker [e.g. superoxide dismutase [SOD] levels], blood levels of testosterone, and anti-oxidant enzyme levels [e.g. glutathione peroxidase [GPx]] were assessed by ELISA methods. Serum activity of malondialdehyde [MDA] was evaluated by spectrophotometry. Another assessment was carried out by histomorphometry, 24-hour post-procedure. The histological parameters investigated by Johnson's scores [JS], also the seminiferous tubule diameter [STD] and the height of the germinal epithelium [HE] measured using the linear eyepiece grids using light microscopy
Results: Histological features significantly differed between sham and the other groups. The levels of SOD, GPx, and testosterone hormone were significantly decreased in T/D group as compared to sham group, while these parameters increased in T/DMC group as compared to T/D group. During ischemia, the MDA levels increased; however, treatment with MC extract decreased the MDA levels in G3 and G4 groups
Conclusion: Results of the present study demonstrated that MC can protect the testis tissue against torsion/detorsion- induced damages by suppressing superoxide production