Efeitos do pré-tratamento com dimetilsulfóxido, ácido lipóico ou ternatina sobre o estresse oxidativo em ratos jovens submetidos à torção do cordão espermático

Abstract

The protective role of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), lipoic acid (LA) and ternatin (TN), known free radical scavengers and cell membrane protectants were evaluated in an experimental model of testis ischemia/reperfusion. One hundred and twenty young male Wistar rats, mean weight 172.5±15g, were randomized in five equal groups (GS - Sham, GC – Control, GD – Dimethylsulfoxide, GA – Lipoic acid and GT/D – Ternatin/DMSO). Rats of each group were distributed into four subgroups (T-0, T-1, T-3 and T-6), each comprising six animals. All surgical procedures were performed under inhalatory ether anesthesia. Experimental rats received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 3% aqueous solution of DMSO (10 ml/kg, GD), LA (10 mg/kg, GA) or TN/DMSO (12 mg/kg, suspended in 3% aqueous solution of DMSO), GT/D) 24, 12 and 4 hours before cord detorsion. Last dose was given 1 hour before ischemia induction or second Sham operation. Sham (GS) and Control (GC) rats received NaCl 0.9% 10 ml/Kg i.p. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (µmol/g wet tissue) were assayed in testis. Total Antioxidant Power (TAP) (µM) was measured in blood plasma. Data were first analyzed by Kolmorogov-Smirnov test to assess differences in the general shapes of distribution. Comparisons between groups were made using the t test for normally distributed data and the Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed data. P values of <0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Comparisons between antioxidant-treated and saline-treated rats (Control group, GC) were made using Dunnett’s test. Spermatic cord torsion induced significant decrease in testis MDA levels during ischemia and reperfusion in DMSO (GD) and LA (GA) and in TN/DMSO (GT/D) treated rats during reperfusion, compared with respective controls. MDA levels were significantly increased in GC compared with Sham (GS) rats at the end of the ischemia and during reperfusion as well as one hour after detorsion (T-1) in GC rats compared with T-0, in the same group, indicating additional damage imposed by the afflux of oxygenated blood (reperfusion) to the ischemic tissues. GSH levels decreased significantly in saline-treated (GC) compared with Sham-operated rats and increased significantly in DMSO and LA treated rats at the end of ischemia and during reperfusion. The model utilized in this study did not induce systemic effects. TAP was significantly increased during reperfusion (T-1) in LA (GA) and TN/DMSO (GT/D) pretreated rats, compared with respective controls. The results of the present study reinforce the hypothesis that ischemia and reperfusion are free radicals generating processes. The different antioxidants studied here have demonstrated great efficacy in cell membrane protection by decreasing lipid peroxidation in all experiments. Increased reduced glutathione levels in DMSO and LA treated rats support the view that these substances can exert a protective effect against testis oxidative stress injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion in rats subjected to torsion of the spermatic cord lasting three hours. TN protective effects in reducing lipoperoxidation were more pronounced in ischemic tissues.