A comparison of the effects of N-acetylcysteine and ethyl pyruvate on experimental testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and ethyl pyruvate (EP) on experimental testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

METHODS

Randomized, controlled, experimental study.

METHODS

University hospital.

METHODS

Twenty-four mature male Wistar rats.

METHODS

Rats were divided into four groups: control group, torsion-detorsion (T/D) group, EP group, and NAC group. In the pretreatment of the NAC and EP groups, 20 mg/kg NAC and 50 mg/kg EP were given intraperitoneally (IP) 30 minutes before detorsion.

METHODS

Serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), tissue and serum malondialdehyde, and myeloperoxidase activity levels and histopathological damage scores were then compared.

RESULTS

Ethyl pyruvate and N-acetylcysteine exhibited a protective effect against I/R injury. Of the biochemical parameters evaluated as a result of testicular I/R, only IMA levels were significantly elevated. There was a strong and significant correlation between serum IMA levels and histopathological injury scores, and the increase in serum IMA level exhibited a strong parallel with the increase in histopathological injury. In the EP group, although the histopathological injury score was similar to that of the control group, serum IMA levels were significantly elevated.

CONCLUSIONS

Both NAC and EP, the effects of which on I/R injury are evaluated in the present study, reduce such injury in testicular torsion-detorsion. Comparing their effects on IMA levels, NAC may be regarded as a relatively more effective treatment than EP.