Protective effects of hydrogen rich saline solution on experimental testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

We examined the effectiveness of hydrogen rich saline solution on the prevention of testicular damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley® rats were divided randomly into 4 groups, including group 1-sham operated, group 2-torsion-detorsion, group 3-torsion-detorsion plus saline and group 4-torsion-detorsion plus hydrogen rich saline solution. Testicular torsion was performed by rotating the left testis 720 degrees clockwise for 4 hours. Reperfusion was allowed for 4 hours. Hydrogen rich saline solution (5 ml/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in rats in group 4 15 minutes before the start of detorsion. Rats were sacrificed after 4-hour initiation of detorsion. Left orchiectomy was done for histopathological examination and biochemical assay.

The testicular injury score in groups 2 and 3 was significantly lower than in sham operated group 1 but higher in group 4 with hydrogen rich saline than in group 2 with torsion-detorsion. The apoptosis index was significantly increased in groups 2 and 3. Hydrogen rich saline solution treatment significantly decreased the apoptosis index. A significant increase in malondialdehyde and a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity were observed in groups 2 and 3. In group 4 malondialdehyde was significantly lowered and superoxide dismutase activity was significantly improved compared with groups 2 and 3.

Results provide a biochemical and histopathological basis for the action of hydrogen rich saline solution as a therapeutic agent for testicular damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury.