Effect of Experimentally Induced Ischemic-Reperfusion on the Testis and the Possible Protective Role of L-Carnitine in the Adult Albino Rat; Histological, Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Study

Background: Ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a possible cause of testicular damage and infertility after testicular torsion. L-carnitine is a naturally occurring compound widely distributed in all cells and plays a pivotal role in spermatogenesis. Aim of the Work: Was to study the effect of I/R injury on the structure of testis on the same side with or without L-carnitine. Materials and Methods: 25 adult albino rats were divided into group I (control), group II (left spermatic cord was clamped for 60 min I/R) and group III (each animal received 500 mg/kg L-carnitine i.p. 30 min before reperfusion). All animals were scarified after 4 weeks and the testes were processed for histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies for Bcl-X and testosterone Ab-1. Furthermore, statistical analysis for percentage of sperms abnormalities was examined in smears from the head of the epididymis. Results: I/R injury induced severe affection of the spermatogenic cells and changes in the Leydig cells activity. The changes were improved in animals that received L-carnitine (Group III). The spermatogenic and interstitial cells in this group appeared more or less as these of the control. The Bcl-X protein was apparently increased in I/R group and reduced in group III while the testosterone Ab-1 was increased in some cells of groups II and preserved in group III. I/R resulted in a significant increase in the frequencies of abnormal sperm while L-carnitine improved this lesion. Conclusion: L-carnitine pretreatment appeared to have a protective effect in experimental testicular I/R model in rats by its antioxidant and antiapoptic properties.