The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of quercetin (QE) on testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control, I/R and I/R treated with QE; each group contain eight animals. Testicular torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° in a clockwise direction. The ischaemia period was 5 h and orchiectomy was performed after 5 h of detorsion. QE (15 mg kg(-1) , i.p.) was administered only once, 40 min prior to detorsion. Left orchiectomy was performed in all I/R groups. To date, no histopathological changes on testicular torsion/detorsion-induced I/R injury in rats by QE treatment have been reported. Spermatogenesis and mean seminiferous tubule diameter were significantly decreased in I/R groups were compared with the control group. Furthermore, QE treated animals showed an improved histological appearance in I/R group. Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of TUNEL, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and a rise in the expression of testosterone in testes tissue of I/R treated with QE therapy. We believe that further preclinical research into the utility of QE may indicate its usefulness as a potential treatment on testes injury after I/R in rats.
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