Pioglitazone Eases Testicular Torsion/Detorsion-Induced Ischemia- Reperfusion Injury in Rats

167-172. Abstract Objective: This study demonstrated the protective effects of pioglitazone (Pio) on testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 male rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups of eight rats each; Control group, I/R group, Pio 3 mg/kg group, I/R treated with Pio 3 mg/kg group, Pio 6 mg/kg group, and I/R treated with Pio 6 mg/kg group. Testicular torsion was induced by twisting the left testis 720 °C in a clockwise direction (I/R groups). Both ischemia and reperfusion periods were 4 h. Single-dose 3 mg/kg Pio or 6 mg/kg Pio was administered orally two hours before reperfusion (Pio groups). Left orchiectomy was performed at the end of the protocol. Results: In the I/R within-group analysis for mean seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial lengths, a statistically significant difference was found only in the Pio 6 group (p=0.005; p=0.005). But Pio treatment failed to improve the levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione. Also, it did not cause any change in the non-I/R groups. Conclusion: Considering the findings of Pio, it may be used in emergencies such as torsion and other chronic diseases.