Role of augmenter of liver regeneration on testicular ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion injury: An experimental study

Abstract

Background: Testicular torsion causes ischemic injury, and torsion causes reperfusion injury. Aim: Evaluating the role of augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) in testicular ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Materials and Method(s): Seventy‑eight (78) healthy Wistar albino male rats were randomly divided into four groups; control (C) (n = 6), sham (S) (n = 24), torsion (T) (n = 24), and torsion/detorsion (T/D) (n = 24). S, T, and T/D groups were divided into four subgroups (n = 6) as 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th hours. Blood, tissue ALR, and histology analyses were performed between groups and subgroups. Results: The increase in plasma ALR values at the 3^rd and 4^th hours compared to the 1^st hour in the T group were significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively). In the T/D group, a significant increase was observed in plasma ALR values at the 3^rd and 4^th hours compared to the 1^st hour (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively). Plasma ALR values at the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th hours were higher in the T and T/D groups than in the C group (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, respectively). Plasma ALR values were higher in the T group at the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th hours than in the S group (P < 0.05). A significant increase was observed in tissue ALR at the 3^rd and 4^th hours than at the 1^st hour in the T group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively). A significant increase was observed in tissue ALR at the 3^rd and 4^th hours than in the 1^st hour in the T/D group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively). Discussion: ALR in plasma and testicular tissue has a potential role in the early diagnosis of testicular torsion and in predicting the prognosis of T and T/D.