Effect of experimentally induced ischemic-reperfusion on the testis and the possible protective role of L-carnitine in the adult albino rat; histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study

ABSTRACT

Ischemic-reperfusion [I/R] injury is a possible cause of testicular damage and infertility after testicular torsion. L-carnitine is a naturally occurring compound widely distributed in all cells and plays a pivotal role in spermatogenesis. Was to study the effect of I/R injury on the structure of testis on the same side with or without L-carnitine. 25 adult albino rats were divided into group I [control], group II [left spermatic cord was clamped for 60 min [I/R]] and group III [each animal received 500 mg/kg L-carnitine i.p. 30 min before reperfusion]. All animals were scarified after 4 weeks and the testes were processed for histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies for Bcl-X and testosterone Ab-1. Furthermore, statistical analysis for percentage of sperms abnormalities was examined in smears from the head of the epididymis. I/R injury induced severe affection of the spermatogenic cells and changes in the Leydig cells activity. The changes were improved in animals that received L-carnitine [Group III]. The spermatogenic and interstitial cells in this group appeared more or less as these of the control. The Bcl-X protein was apparently increased in I/R group and reduced in group III while the testosterone Ab-1 was increased in some cells of groups II and preserved in group III. I/R resulted in a significant increase in the frequencies of abnormal sperm while L-carnitine improved this lesion. L-carnitine pretreatment appeared to have a protective effect in experimental testicular I/R model in rats by its antioxidant and antiapoptic properties