Introduction: In this study, we aimed to determine the protective effects of hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid, in a model of testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
Material and methods: Forty-two pubertal male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into six groups: group 1 – control; group 2 – 50 mg/kg hesperidin (low dose hesperidin) used without torsion (LH group); group 3 – 100 mg/kg hesperidin without torsion (HH group); group 4 – torsion/detorsion group (T/D); group 5 – T/D + 50 mg/kg hesperidin treatment group (T/D + LH); and group 6 – T/D + 100 mg/kg hesperidin treatment group (T/D + HH). Hesperidin was given to the treatment groups 30 min before detorsion. After the fourth hour of reperfusion, orchiectomy was performed on the rats under anesthesia. The tissue samples were examined histologically and biochemically.
Results: In the T/D group testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased significantly (p < 0.001) whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels were decreased compared to the control and other groups. However, hesperidin caused the effect of T/D to become closer to normal biochemical values. In addition, the histological examinations showed that T/D caused damage in the testis but hesperidin reduced this effect. The effects of hesperidin were found to be dose dependent. Thus, applying high doses would generate greater therapeutic effects.
Conclusions: In a rat testicular T/D model we observed biochemical and histological damage due to ischemia. However, high and low dose applications of hesperidin were shown to have protective effects against this damage. Therefore, the aforementioned citrus flavonoid may provide positive results in cases of testicular torsion.