The Flavonoid Chrysin Protects against Testicular Apoptosis Induced by Torsion/Detorsion in Adult Rats

Abstract

In the present work, we examined the beneficial efficacy of chrysin as a natural flavonoid on testicular torsion/detorsion damages among adult male rats. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into six groups: sham, torsion/detorsion (TD) group, TDC30 group in which TD process was applied and treated with chrysin (30 mg/kg), TDC50 group in which TD process was applied and treated with chrysin (50 mg/kg), HC30 group in which animals were treated with chrysin (30 mg/kg), and HC50 group in which rats were treated with chrysin (50 mg/kg). Serum samples were tested for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. The sperm parameters, histopathological analysis, and expressions of apoptosis-related genes were examined among different groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the testicles and serum were measured. Serum levels of SOD, GPx, FSH, LH, and “Bax” expression significantly increased in the TD group compared to the sham group ( $P<0.05$ ). Sperm parameters, serum testosterone level, Johnson’s scores, seminiferous tubule diameter, the height of the germinal epithelium (HE) measurements, and expression of “Bcl2” meaningfully decreased ( $P<0.05$ ). Administration of chrysin impeded ischemia/reperfusion damages in testis tissue and improved sperm quality. The result of our study indicates that treatment with chrysin can protect testis tissue from ischemia/reperfusion damages induced by TD procedure.