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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Anchorage of Twisted Testis: A Rat Model of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of the Testis
Published on: November 14, 2025
[Testicular perfusion injury. Cytokines and cell adhesion molecules in humans]
H Sperling1, S Krege, G Lümmen
1Urologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum, Essen. herbert.sperling@mariahilf.de
Background:
Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) lead to cellular damage. A disturbance of testicular perfusion occurs during the therapy of cryptorchidism and in cases of testicular torsion. This results in the activation of mediator cells with an increasing synthesis of mediators of infection like TNF-alpha and the expression of cell adhesion molecules like ICAM (intercellular adhesion molecule) and VCAM (vascular cell adhesion molecule) at the cellular surface.
Methods:
The expression of the cytokines IL-10 and TNF-alpha and the adhesion molecules ICAM and VCAM after defined testicular I/R injury in nine male transsexuals was evaluated with rt-PCR. Furthermore we examined lactate and the diameter of the testicular tubulus under ischemic conditions.
Results:
During ischemia ICAM, IL-10, and VCAM do not show significant changes on the side of testicular ischemia and the contralateral side; the same was seen for the tubulus diameter. TNF-alpha and the testicular lactate values showed a significant change of the expression pattern.
Discussion:
The statistical changes of TNF-alpha and testicular lactate are the expression of leukocyte migration, infectious reaction, and immune response. To what extent the TNF-alpha expression represents a severe immunological reaction remains undefined. This human study shows primary results for the immunological understanding of and cellular response to testicular ischemia.
