Effects of co-administration of dopamine and vitamin C on ischaemia-reperfusion injury after experimental testicular torsion-detorsion in rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dopamine as vasodilator, vitamin C as an antioxidant and combined administration of them on ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury following testicular torsion (TT). Thirty adult male rats were divided into six groups each containing five rats. Testicular ischaemia was achieved by twisting the left testis for 4 h. Group 1 was for determination of the basal values. Group 2 had 4 h TT. Group 3 had 4 h TT and was then treated with dopamine. Group 4 had 4 h TT and was then treated with vitamin C. Group 5 had 4 h TT and was then treated with dopamine and vitamin C. Group 6 was designed as a sham operated group. Testicular torsion caused a significant decrease in the percentage of spermatogenesis and seminiferous tubules diameters compared with the control and sham groups. Administration of dopamine, vitamin C and their combination increased above mentioned parameters and decreased serum malondialehyde levels significantly. However, vitamin C had better results than the other treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a potent antioxidant like vitamin C was found to be more effective than increasing blood flow by a vasodilator like dopamine on improving I-R injury following TT.